Answer: it will take 1.25 hours before they meet
Explanation:
Linda is meeting Steve. Linda walks at 2.5 miles per hour.
Distance = speed × time
time = distance / speed
Let t represent the time it takes Linda to cover her distance.
Distance covered by Linda = 25×t = 2.5t miles
Steve is walking at 1.5 miles per hour.
Let t1 represent the time it takes Steve to cover his distance.
Distance covered by Steve = 1.5×t = 1.5 t1 miles.
They are 5 miles apart. It means that by the time they met, they have covered a 5 miles. Therefore
2.5t + 1.5t1 = 5
Assuming both of them spent the same time walking, it means that
t = t1
2.5t + 1.5t = 5
4t = 5
t = 5/4 = 1.25 hours