someone help me, please?

Question

A byciclist traveling at 18mph overtakes an inline skater who is traveling at 10 mph and had a 0.5 hour head start. How far from the starting point doesthe bicyclist overtake the inline skater?

Answer 1

when the two meet, they have traveled the same distance. So if we can write what the distance for each is and set them equal, we should get our answer.

 

The basic formula for distance is distance d  =  speed x time

 

Let T = time traveled by inline skater

Then T - .5 = time traveled by bicyclist

 

For the inline skater, d = 10mph x T hours

 

For the bicyclist, d = 18mph (T - .5) hours

 

Set them equal.

 

10T = 18T - 9

 

8T = 9

 

T = 9/8

 

Distance = 10mph(9/8) = 11.25 miles

Distance  = 18mph(9/8 - 4/8) = 11.25 miles