Find the two bicyclists’ rates.

Question

At 9:00 on Saturday morning, two bicyclists heading in opposite directions pass each other on a bicycle path.The bicyclist heading north is riding 4 km/hour faster than the bicyclist heading south. At 10:30, they are 39 km apart.

Answer 1

Let x = speed of bicycle 1, then x+4 is the speed of the second bike

 

Total rate (speed) = x + (x+ 4) km/hr = 2x + 4

 

Distance = 39 km

 

Time = 1.5 hrs

 

R = D/T

 

2x+4=39/1.5

 

2x+4 = 26

 

2x = 22

 

x = 11