Word problem: Two Planes

[silverdragon316]

This is my problem:

Two planes leave cities that are 1700 miles apart and travel towards each other at the rates of 200km/h and 225kh/h.

a) in how many hours will they meet?
b) How far from the starting point of the slower plane will they be when they meet?

How do I go about setting this one up?
What formula do I use?

 

[morson]

Assume they meet x miles from the starting point of the slower plane. Then they met (1700 - x) miles from the starting point of the faster plane.

Also use the formula speed = distance/time

Also, convert km/hr to miles/hr so you can proceed.

 

[soroban]

Hello, silverdragon316!

Is there a typo? . . . Is it all in kilometers?

Two planes leave cities that are 1700 km apart
and travel towards each other at the rates of 200km/hr and 225km/hr.

(a) In how many hours will they meet?
(b) How far from the starting point of the slower plane will they be when they meet?

It might be obvious that we use: \(\displaystyle \text{Distance }\:=\:\text{ Speed }\times\text{ Time}\;\;\Rightarrow\;\;T\:=\:\frac{D}{S}\)

They have a combined speed of: \(\displaystyle \,200\,+\,225\:=\:425\) km/hr.
It is as if one plane is stopped and the other is approaching at 425 km/hr.

(a) To fly 1600 miles, it takes: \(\displaystyle \,\frac{1700}{425} \:=\:4\) hours.

(b) In 4 hours, they will be 800 km from the starting point of the slower plane.

 

[silverdragon316]

This is my problem:

Two planes leave cities that are 1700 miles apart and travel towards each other at the rates of 200km/h and 225kh/h.

a) in how many hours will they meet?
b) How far from the starting point of the slower plane will they be when they meet?

How do I go about setting this one up?
What formula do I use?

Yes, sorry it was a typeo their both km.

 

[silverdragon316]

This is my problem:

Two planes leave cities that are 1700 miles apart and travel towards each other at the rates of 200km/h and 225kh/h.

a) in how many hours will they meet?
b) How far from the starting point of the slower plane will they be when they meet?

How do I go about setting this one up?
What formula do I use?

Yes, sorry it was a typeo their both km.

Thank you very much.