-- While gaining 2.15 m/s more speed every second, the van
would gain (2.15 x 7) = 15.05 m/s more speed in 7 seconds.
-- We're told that its speed at the end of the 7 seconds
is 20 m/s .
-- So its speed at the beginning of the 7 seconds must have been
(20 m/s - 15.05 m/s) = 4.95 m/s .