Problema Solution
Two planes leave Portland at the same time. One travels due south at 500 mph. The other travels due east at 600 mph. How long until the planes are 1000 miles apart?
Answer provided by our tutors
let
v1 = 500 mph the speed of the plane traveling due south
v2 = 600 mph the speed of the plan traveling due east
t = the time of the travel, t>0
make a drawing and notice that the paths of the plane are the legs of a right triangle with a hypotenuse equal to 1000
since distance= speed*time we have
(v1*t)^2 + (v2*t)^2 = 1000^2
(500*t)^2 + (600*t)^2 = 1000^2
by solving we find
t = 1.28 hr
t = 1 hr 17 min
click here to see the step by step solution of the equation
after 1 hr 17 min the planes will be 1000 miles apart.