Two cyclists, 144 miles apart, start riding toward each other at the same time.

Question

Two cyclists, 144 miles apart, start riding toward each other at the same time. One cycles 3 times as fast as the other. If they meet 4 hours later, what is the speed (in mi/h) of the faster cyclist?

Answer 1

Let X = the speed of the slower cyclist. Therefore 3X = the speed of the faster cyclist. 

Since Rate * time = Distance

4X + 4 (3X) = 144 miles

Simplify, collect like terms, and solve for X to get the speed of the slower cyclist. Then multiply by 3 to get the speed of the faster cyclist.