Answer: The speed of Bob is 56.8 km/hr.
Step-by-step explanation:
Let the speed of Bob be 'x'.
Let the speed of John be 'x-8'.
Distance covered = 230 miles
time = [tex]1\dfrac{1}{2}=\dfrac{3}{2}\ hr[/tex]
According to question, we get that
[tex]\dfrac{230}{x}-\dfrac{230}{x+8}=\dfrac{3}{2}\\\\230\dfrac{x+8-x}{x(x+8)}=\dfrac{3}{2}\\\\\dfrac{230\times 8}{x^2+8x}=\dfrac{3}{2}\\\\\dfrac{1840}{x^2+8x}=\dfrac{3}{2}\\\\1840\times 2=3x^2+24x\\\\3680=3x^2+24x\\\\3x^2+24x-3680=0\\\\x\approx 56.8\ km/hr[/tex]
Hence, the speed of Bob is 56.8 km/hr.