How to Calculate Time and Speed for a Return Trip

How can we calculate the time it takes for Joe to return to the store?

Joe works for a furniture store and averages 22 mph on the way to a delivery and 32 mph on the way back. How can we determine the time it takes for Joe to return to the store?

Calculating the Time for Joe's Return Trip

To calculate the time it takes for Joe to return to the store, we need to know the distance he traveled to deliver the furniture. Once we have the distance, we can use the formula: time = distance / speed.

Let's assume the distance to the customer's location is "D" miles. On the way to the customer's location, Joe averaged 22 mph, so the time it took for the outbound trip would be: Time (to customer) = D miles / 22 mph.

Now, on the way back to the store, Joe averaged 32 mph. So, the time for the return trip would be: Time (return) = D miles / 32 mph. The time for the return trip depends on the same distance "D," so we don't need to calculate it separately; it's the same as the outbound trip but will take less time due to the higher speed.