Time and distance

Question

A theif, pursued by a police man, was 100 m. ahead at the start. If the ratio of the speed of the police man to that of the theif was 5:4, How far could the thief go before he was caught by the police man?

Answer 1

Given,

Thief of 100 meters ahead of policeman

Assume X as the distance at which the policeman was there

Thief distance will be 100+x (as thief is 100 meters ahead than police man)

Ratio of their speed is given as 5:4

x /( x+100) =5/4

by cross multiplying 4x=5x+500

x=-500 as distance can not be negitive x=500