Word Problem

The problem

Ryan left the science museum and drove

south. Gabriella left three hours later

driving 42 km/h faster in an effort to catch

up to him. After two hours Gabriella finally

caught up. Find Ryan's average speed.

Is it practical?

I think it could be practical but I don’t like the idea of speeding to catch up.

Is it imagery memorable?

The presence of a picture would help the student visualise the distance to calculate the average speed.

Can it be solved with the given info?

Yes, let’s assume that Ryan speed is x then the distance they travel is:  5 x = 2( x+ 42)

X = 28 km/h

Can it be interpreted in more than one way?

It was not clear if Gabriella left the science museum to catch up with Ryan or maybe her home in that case the distance would not be the same...

It was not clear if Gabriella was driving faster than Ryan or faster than usual...

Would the kids be able to interpret it as intended?

Since I did interpret it in a different way the kids for sure would think about that too

Is there anything strange about it?

Yes, my question here: was Gabriella on a highway because unless Ryan was driving 8 Km/h Gabriella was driving above speed limit....

Another thing, I did not understand why Ryan had to travel south would the direction he took change anything in the problem solution??

How would you change it?

I would make the problem clearer

Ryan left the science museum and drove on the highway towards home.

Gabriella left the science museum three hours later, taking the same highway, driving 42 km/h faster than Ryan in an effort to catch up to him.

After two hours Gabriella finally caught up.

Find Ryan's average speed.