At 6:00 a bus left Denver and travelled east at 40 mph. A delivery van left Denver one hour later on the same route at 55 mph.

Question

Algebra 1

At what time will the van take over the bus?

Answer 1

Distance = Speed*Time, so Distance/Speed = Time

 

The bus has a 40 mph*1 hour = 40 mile head start.  The van is moving 15 mph faster that the bus.  The van will close the 40 mile gap and catch the bus in (40 miles)/(15 mph) = 2 2/3 hours or 2 hours and 40 minutes.