Two teams of scientists leave a university at the same time in special vans to search for tornadoes. The first team travels east at 25 mi/h and the second team

Question

the second team travels west at 30 mi/h. Their radios have a have a range of 110 mi. How much time will pass before the scientists lose radio contact?

 

Define a variable and write an equation to model each equation. Then solve.

Answer 1

 

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      d=rt                                  d=rt

      d=30t                                d=25t

When they are 110 miles apart they lose contact.

 

30t+25t=110

55t=110

t=110/55

t=2 hours

check: d=30*2=60 miles and d=25*2=50 miles, 60+50=110 miles