Tilessa gave Janice a 20 yard head start in a race. Tiless runs 3 yds/sec, Janice runs 2.5 yds/sec. How many seconds until T catches up to J?

Question

Third grade word problem

Answer 1

Hello Elizabeth.

 

In t seconds, Tilessa will run 3t yards and Janice will run 2.5t yards with a 20 yard head start.

Tilessa will catch up to Janice when:

 

3t = 2.5t + 20. Solve for t:

0.5t = 20

t = 40 seconds.

 

Are you sure this is a third grade word problem?