pre algebra word problem

Question

The supertanker and the iceberg are headed straight toward each other. The supertanker is traveling at a speed of 12 miles per hour, while the iceberg is traveling at 0.5 miles per hour. If the two are exactly 50 miles apart, in how many hours will they hit?

Answer 1

Since they're heading straight towards each other, their speed at which they're approaching each other is the SUM of their two speeds, which is 12.5 miles per hour. 

 

Distance / speed = time, so they will hit each other in 50 / 12.5 hours = 4 hours.