Problema Solution

Two trucks leave Philadelphia for Miami. The first truck to leave travels at an average speed of 50 kilometers per hour. The second truck, which leaves 2 hours later, travels at an average speed of 55 kilometers per hour. How long does it take the second truck to overtake the first truck?

Answer provided by our tutors

Let

t = the time of the second truck

v2 = 55 km/hr the average speed of the second truck

v1 = 50 km/hr the average speed of the first truck

t + 2 = the time of the first truck

Since distance = average speed*time and both trucks travel the same distance we can write:

v1(t + 2) = v2t

50(t + 2) = 55t

........

click here to see the equation solved for t

........

t = 20 hr

The second truck needs 20 hours to overtake the first truck.