If Larry start to jogging at 4 miles per hour at 7 a.m. and 1/2 hour later Mitch started jogging on the same route at 6 miles per hour at what time will Mitch catch Larry?

Question

Do i multiply 4mph x 1/2 hr = 2 miles.

Then what do I do about Mitch?

Answer 1

Larry jogged 4 mph for 1/2 hr, so he jogged 2 miles in that half hour that Mitch hadn't been jogging.

Let x = time (in hrs)

Larry : 2 + 4x

Mitch: 6x

If we set both equations equal to each other we will find the amount of time it takes for their distances to be equal.

2 + 4x = 6x

2 = 2x

1 = x

If x = 1, then in 1 hr Mitch will catch Larry. Mitch started running at 7 am, so the time would be 8 am, 1 hr later.