how long will it be before they meet?

Question

Eddie and Tisha are walking to their classes at Stamford College. Eddie comes from his dorm room, walking at a speed of 3 miles per hour down a straight path. Tisha comes from the gymnasium on the other end of campus, moving up the same path at 4 miles per hour. If they start out 1 mile apart, how long will it be before they meet?

 

Answer 1

Let x = distance travelled by Eddie when they meet

 

    1-x = distance travelled by Tisha

 

Distance = (Rate)(Time), so Time = Distance/Rate

 

When they meet, the times travelled are the same.

 

So, x/3 = (1-x)/4

 

      4x = 3(1-x)

 

      4x = 3-3x

 

      7x = 3

 

       x = 3/7 miles

 

They meet in (3/7)/3 hours.  That is, they meet 1/7 of an hour after starting to walk to class.