Town Snow Math Inches

Question

Two towns have accumulated different amounts of snow. In Town 1, the snow depth is increasing by 3 1/2 inches every hour. In Town 2, the snow depth is increasing by 2 1/4 inches every hour. In how many hours will the snowfalls of the towns be equal?

Town 1 current snowfall is 5 inches

Town 2 current snowfall is 6 inches

Answer 1

5+ 3.5h = 6+2.25h

3.5h - 2.25h = 6-5

1.25h = 1

h = 1/1.25 = 1/(5/4) = 4/5 hour

= .8(60) = 48 minutes until snow levels are the same in both cities

in 1 hour snow levels are 8.5 and 8.25 with city 1 higher

in 1/2 hour snow levels are 5+3.5/2 = 5+1.75 = 6.75, and 6+2,25/2 =6+1.125= 7.125

so somewhere between 1/2 hour and 1 hour the city levels are the same

6.75 vs 7.125 in half hour

8.5 vs 8.25 in 1 hour

closer to 1 hour is where levels are equal 48 minutes is closer to 1 hour than 1/2 hour