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WAEC Mathematics 2021 Theory — Question 3

Question 3 of 22 from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Mathematics 2021 Theory paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation.

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2. A man left town M at 10:00 a.m. and travelled by car to town N at an average speed of 72 km/h. He spent 2 hours for a meeting and returned to town M by bus at an average speed of 40 km/h. If the distance covered by the bus was 2 km longer than that covered by the car and he arrived at town M at 1:55 p.m., calculate the distance from M to N.

Model answer

Total travel time (excluding the 2-hour meeting) = 3 hr 55 min − 2 hr = 1 hr 55 min = 23/12 hr. Let the distance M→N (by car) = x km, so the bus distance = (x+2) km. Time by car = x/72, time by bus = (x+2)/40. x/72 + (x+2)/40 = 23/12. Solving simultaneously gives x = 48 km.

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