Problema Solution
Fred and Wilma start from the same point and travel on a straight road. Fred travels at 30 mph, while Wilma travels at 50 mph. If Wilma starts 3 hours after Fred, what is the distance they travel before Wilma catches up with Fred? How long are they each traveling for?
Answer provided by our tutors
v1 = 30 mph is Fred's speed
v2 = 50 mph is Wilma's speed
t = Wilma's time
t + 3 = Fred's time
Assuming they travel in same direction and since distance = speed*time we have:
v1(t + 3) = v2t
30(t + 3) = 50t
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click here to see the equation solved for t
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t = 4.5 hr
t + 3 = 4.5 + 3 = 7.5 hr
Fred is traveling 7.5 hours while Wilma is traveling 4.5 hours.
30*7.5 = 225 mi
The distance they travel is 225 miles.