Two snails are 230 centimeters apart

Question

Two snails are 230 centimeters apart. They crawl toward each other at rates that differ by 4 cm/min. After 23 minutes, they meet. How fast is each snail crawling

Answer 1

They meet after 23 minutes which mean that they cover 230 cm in 23 minutes. This is at the rate of 10 cm/min. They together cover at the rate of 10 cm/min. It is also given that their rates differ by 4 cm/min. 

 

X+Y = 10 

X-Y = 4

 

This gives 7 for X and 3 for Y. So the snails are crawling at the rate of 7 cm/min and 3 cm/min. 

 

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

distance=rate*time

230=r*23+(r+4)*23

230=23r+23r+92

230-92=46r

138=46r

r=138/46

r=3 cm/min

r+4=7 cm/min