The time taken by a person to cover 150 km was 2.5 hrs more than the time taken in the return journey.
The time taken by a person to cover 150 km was 2.5 hrs more than the time taken in the return journey. If he returned at a speed of 10 km/hr more than the speed of going, what was the speed per hour in each direction?
Let the ongoing speed of person be $x \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{hr}$. Then,
Returning speed of the person is $=(x+10) \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{hr}$.
Time taken by the person in going direction to cover $150 \mathrm{~km}=\frac{150}{x} \mathrm{hr}$
Time taken by the person in returning direction to cover $150 \mathrm{~km}=\frac{150}{(x+10)} \mathrm{hr}$
Therefore,
$\frac{150}{x}-\frac{150}{(x+10)}=\frac{5}{2}$
$\frac{\{150(x+10)-150 x\}}{x(x+10)}=\frac{5}{2}$
$\frac{150 x+1500-150 x}{x^{2}+10 x}=\frac{5}{2}$
$\frac{1500}{x^{2}+10 x}=\frac{5}{2}$
$3000=5 x^{2}+50 x$
$5 x^{2}+50 x-3000=0$
$5 x^{2}+50 x-3000=0$
$5\left(x^{2}+10 x-600\right)=0$
$x^{2}+10 x-600=0$
$x^{2}-20 x+30 x-600=0$
$x(x-20)+30(x-20)=0$
$(x-20)(x+30)=0$
So, either
$(x-20)=0$
$x=20$
Or
$(x+30)=0$
$x=-30$
But, the speed of the train can never be negative.
Thus, when $x=20$ then
$=(x+10)$
$=(20+10)$
$=30$
Hence, ongoing speed of person is $x=20 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{hr}$
and returning speed of the person is $x=30 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{hr}$ respectively.