Word problem troubles-- Please help!!

nick29

New member
Joined
Oct 9, 2005
Messages
4
Alexis left Miami and drove at a speed of 20kph. Tom Left 3 hours later and drove at a speed of 30 kph. How long will it take Tom to catch up to Alexis?
 
Alexis left Miami and drove at a speed of 20kph. Tom Left 3 hours later and drove at a speed of 30 kph. How long will it take Tom to catch up to Alexis?

Draw a Chart:


20 30 40 50 60
..............30 60

It would take Tom 6 hours to catch up with Alexis

I'm not sure if its right.
 
Hello, nick29!

Aloha is correct . . .

Alexis left Miami and drove at a speed of 20 kph.
Tom Left 3 hours later and drove at a speed of 30 kph.
How long will it take Tom to catch up to Alexis?
Let T = number of hours for Tom to catch up to Alexis.

Alexis had a 3-hour headstart; she drove 60 km already.
At that instant, Tom starts at 30 kph.
And they both drive for T hours.

Alexis has gone: .60 + 20T km
. Tom has gone: .30T km

Since their distances are equal: .30T .= .20T + 60 . . . and solve for T.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This problem lends itself to an "eyeball" solution.

Alexis is 60 km ahead of Tom.
The difference of their speeds is: .30 - 20 = 10 kph
. . It is as if Alexis is parked and Tom is driving toward her at 10 kph.

At 10 kph, how long will it take Tom to drive 60 km? . . . 6 hours!
 
Top