distance question

Question

8. Two airports one in California and one in New York City are 3000 miles apart. A plane leaving California is traveling
to New York at 200 MPH and a plane leaving New York is traveling to California at 250 MPH. If the planes leave at
the same time how long do they fly until they pass each other

Answer 1

The total distance that both planes combined would fly would be 3000 miles. The amount of time that both planes would fly would be the same, t (in hours). Therefore, the distance that the plane from NYC would be its' speed times the time=200t and the distance that the plane from California would fly would be its' speed times the time=250t. Both distances have to add up to 3000 miles, so we have the equation:

                                                                      200t + 250t = 3000

                                                                      450t = 3000

                                                                           t = 3000/450

                                                                           t = 20/3

                                                                           t = 6 2/3 hrs (2/3 hr = 40 min)

                                                                           t = 6hrs 40mins

Therefore, the answer is that they will pass each other after 6hrs and 40mins.