I need help with a distance problem.?

Question

it is:

Mr. West drove his car from home to Chicago at the rate of 40 mph. and returned at a rate of 45 mph. If his time going exceeded his time returning by 30 minutes, find his time going and his time returning.

Time going was ____hours.
Time returning was _____hours.

Answer 1

Both ways were the same distance.
Let x = time "going" (in hours)
Then x - 0.5 = time "returning" (in hours)

MPH * Hours = Distance... and since the distances are equal...
45(x - 0.5) = 40x
45x - 22.5 = 40x --- Add 22.5 to both sides...
45x = 40x+ 22.5 --- Subtract 40x from both sides...
5x = 22.5 --- Divide both sides by 5...
x = 4.5

ANSWER: Time going was 4½ hours. Time returning was 4 hours.

Answer 2

T = time going T - 30 = time returning


40T = 45(T-30) (since distance = rate x time)

40T = 45T - 45*30

45*30 = 5T

270 = T

Time going = 270 minutes
Time returning = xxx (Edit) 240 minutes