A tour bus averaged 50 mph between two cities on the first leg of a trip and 45 mph on the return trip. The return trip took 1/2 hour longer. Find the distance between the two cities.

The distance between the cities is 50*4.5 = 225 miles.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let "t" be the time spent on the first leg at the average speed of 50 miles per hour.

Then (t+0.5) is the time spent on the returning trip at the average speed of 45 miles per hour.

Since the distance is the same in both directions, you have an equation

50*t = 45*(t+0.5).

Simplify and solve it for "t".

50t = 45t + 22.5,

5t = 22.5

Divide both sides by 5

t = 22.5/5

= 4.5.

Thus we found the time spent at the speed 50 mph. It is 4.5 hours.

Thus the distance between the cities is 50*4.5 = 225 miles