Answer to March 2010 Problem
Prius Problem #1

Mr. P's 1998 Honda Accord has a capacity of 17.12 gallons and
Mrs. P's 2010 Toyota Prius has a capacity of 11.9 gallons.

If the Prius has a range of 137 miles more than the Accord,
and the sum of the ranges of the two cars is 1,205 miles,
determine the average miles per gallon for each car.

Solution to the Problem:

The Prius gets 56.4 mpg and the Accord gets 31.2 mpg.

Let x = mpg of the Accord and let y = mpg of the Prius.
Then the Accord can go 17.12x miles and
the Prius can travel 11.9y miles.

Set up two equations:
11.9y + 17.12x = 1205
11.9y - 17.12x = 137

Solving, we get 23.8y = 1342
so y = 56.4 mpg and x = 31.2 mpg.

Correctly solved by:

1. Michael Brown ----------
2. Jacob Harmon Mountain View High School,
Mountain View, Wyoming
3. Jeremy Harmon Mountain View High School,
Mountain View, Wyoming
4. David & Judy Dixon Bennettsville, South Carolina