Question for problem

Question

A bus is headed out from point "A" traveling 45 mph. Two hours later a car left from the same point traveling on the same road at 55mph . How many hours before the car catches the bus?

Answer 1

let distance = rate x time

 

The bus has a rate of 45 mph, and the car has a rate of 55 mph

 

The time traveled by the bus can be represented by t. Therefore, the amount of time traveled by the car is (t - 2).

 

The distance traveled by both vehicles at the point the car catches the bus will be equal. Let's call that distance d.

 

For the bus, we have d = 45t

 

For the car, we have d = 55(t - 2)

 

Since the distances are equal, we can form the following:

 

45t = 55(t - 2)

45t = 55t - 110

-10t = -110

t = 11

 

After the bus has traveled for 11 hours and the car has traveled for 9 hours, the car will catch up with the bus.