At 9:00 a. m. a train left the station on a round trip that covered 54 miles. It returned after a 30-minute layover. The train averaged 18 miles per hour on the outgoing trip. It averaged 50% faster on the return trip. What time did it return to the station

12pm

Step-by-step explanation:

54 miles in total. I thought of a straight line & the train is travelling to the end & back & that total miles is 54.

so we divide 54 by 2 to find out how miles is it to go & to come back

54:2 = 27

27 miles to go & 27 miles to come back.

we know on the outgoing trip the train travelled 18 mph.

theres 27 miles

27:18=1.5

it took 1.5 hours to travel 27 miles or one hour 30 mins.

on the return trip the train travelled 50 % faster.

50 percent of 18mph = 9

9+18=27 mph

the return train is travelling 27mph & we know it has to travel only 27 miles

27:27 = 1

the return train would have taken an hour.

but they said there was a 30 minute delay so we have to factor all this in.

out going train 1 hour 30 mins, Return train 1 hour, Delay 30 mins

1 hour + 1 hour + 30mins + 30 mins = 3 hours.

The train left 9 am & returned after 3 hours which is 12pm