Question

At 9:00 on Saturday morning, two bicyclist pass each other on a bicycle path. The bicyclist heading north is riding 5km/h faster then the bicyclist heading south. At 10:30, (1.5 hours later) they are 49.5 km apart. Find the two bicyclists’ rates.

Answer 1

Explanation:

One rider's rate is x....the other is x+4

Once they pass each other, they travel for 1.5 hrs...and the combined distance they travel = 39 km

So....Rate x Time = Distance....and we have

x(1.5) + (x+4)(1.5) = 39 simplify

1.5x + 1.5x + 6 = 39

3x + 6 = 39 subtract 6 from both sides

3x = 33 divide by 3 on both sides

x = 11 km/hr this si the slower rider's rate

x + 4 = 11 + 4 = 15 km/hr and this is the faster rider's rate