Problema Solution

Scott drives 80 KM an hour and Roberto drives 64 KM an hour starting at the same place but traveling in opposite directions. Scott starts 2 hours before Roberto. How many hours has Roberto been traveling when they are 376 KM apart?

Answer provided by our tutors

let


v1 = 80 km/h Scott's speed

v2 = 64 km/h Roberto's speed

t1 = the time that Scott travels

t2 = the time that Roberto travels

d = 376 the distance between them


Scott starts 2 hours before Roberto


t1 = t2 + 2


the speed = distance/time => distance = speed*time


since they travel in opposite directions we can write


Scotts distance traveled + Robertos distance traveled = the distance between them


using the formula speed = distance/time => distance = speed*time


v1*t1 + v2*t2 = d


80*t1 + 64*t2 = 376


by solving the system of equations


t1 = t2 + 2

80*t1 + 64*t2 = 376


we find


t1 = 3.5 hours


t2 = 1.5 hours


Roberto has been traveling 1.5 hours.