To determine the speeds of both cars, we can analyze the equations provided.
Blue Car:
The distance traveled by the blue car is given by the equation \( Y = 41X \), where:
- \( Y \) is the distance in miles,
- \( X \) is the time in hours.
The speed of the blue car can be found from this equation, as it represents a linear equation where the coefficient of \( X \) is the speed. Hence, the speed of the blue car is: \[ \text{Speed of blue car} = 41 \text{ miles per hour} \]
Red Car:
Next, we need to find the speed of the red car based on the given distances and times.
We will first calculate the average speed over the observed periods of time based on the table:
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For 5 hours, the speed is: \[ \text{Speed} = \frac{215 \text{ miles}}{5 \text{ hours}} = 43 \text{ miles per hour} \]
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For 6 hours, the speed is: \[ \text{Speed} = \frac{258 \text{ miles}}{6 \text{ hours}} = 43 \text{ miles per hour} \]
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For 7 hours, the speed is: \[ \text{Speed} = \frac{301 \text{ miles}}{7 \text{ hours}} = 43 \text{ miles per hour} \]
From the calculations, we see that the speed of the red car is consistently: \[ \text{Speed of red car} = 43 \text{ miles per hour} \]
Conclusion:
The speeds are as follows:
- The speed of the blue car is 41 miles per hour.
- The speed of the red car is 43 miles per hour.
Therefore, the red car is faster than the blue car.