In a bike race, a rider covers a 5-mi flat stretch of road at the speed of S mi/h. She then doubles her speed down a hill 1 mi long. Finally, she reduces her downhill speed by 12mi/h as she rides the last 3 mi of the race. What function gives the time T it takes the rider to finish the race in terms of S? I'm really confused. I don't want answers but I need someone to explain it

Question

anonymous · Answer

$r \cdot t=d$
solving for time we have $t=\frac{d}{r}$

anonymous · Answer

time = distance / rate

anonymous · Answer

can you help me work the problem?

anonymous · Answer

Start with the first part $\displaystyle t=\frac{5}{S}+ \frac{1}{\frac{1}{2} S}+...$

anonymous · Answer

It's sad that I know the formula, but I don't know how to work it out, isn't it? :/ Sorry.

anonymous · Answer

okay and hah me too but it's fine

anonymous · Answer

how do add the 1st part?

anonymous · Answer

5 divided by s + 1 divided by .5 * S.

anonymous · Answer

i'm so confused aha how do you do that?

anonymous · Answer

RATE * TIME = DISTANCE.

anonymous · Answer

i know that..i meant like the variable was confusing me

anonymous · Answer

Try this link, this guy explains how to solve this. Hope it works for you. http://www.connectionslivelesson.com/p85i34myxq3/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal