math 5th grade HELPPPP

Question

Kenny and Fred were competing to see who could swim the most laps. Kenny let Fred swim 6 laps before he started. After Kenny started every minute Fred swam 3 laps and Kenny swam 5 laps. How many minutes will it take before Kenny passes Fred?

Answer 1

Let "m" stand for the number of minutes after Kenny enters the pool

5m = number of laps Kenny swims

Fred had already completed 6 laps before Kenny entered the pool, and he swims an additional 3 laps for every minute after Kenny enters. So Fred's total laps are:

6 + 3m

Kenny will "pass" Fred (in terms of number of laps completed) when the two expressions are equal:

5m = 6 + 3m

2m = 6

m = 3

Three minutes after Kenny enters the pool, each will have completed 15 laps.