Question

Two cows start walking in opposite direction from the same starting point. One cow has 4 legs, the other cow has 2 legs. The rate of the cow with 2 legs is 10 mph les than the rate of the other cow. After 10 hours, the cows were 500 miles apart. Find the rate of each cow.

Answer 1

The cow with 4 legs is going 50 miles per hour, while the cow with two legs is going 40 miles per hour.

Explanation:

Take the 500 miles apart from your question and divide it by 10 (the hours) after that you get your total: 50 for the 4 legged cow. Minus 10 to get the two legged cow.

Answer 2

Answer: the speed if the 4 legged cow is 30 mph while the speed of the 2 legged cow is 20 mph

Explanation:

One cow has 4 legs, the other cow has 2 legs.

Let x represent the speed of the cow with with four legs.

Let y represent the speed of the cow with 2 legs.

The rate of the cow with 2 legs is 10 mph less than the rate of the other cow. This means that

y = x - 10 - - - - - - - 1

Distance = speed × time

After 10 hours, the cows were 500 miles apart.

Distance travelled by the 4 legged cow is

x × 10 = 10x mph

Distance travelled by the 2 legged cow in 10 hours is

y × 10 = 10y mph

Since they are 500 miles apart, it means that the total distance covered by both cows is 500 miles. Therefore,

10x + 10y = 500

x + y = 50 - - - - - - - 2

Substituting equation 1 into equation 2, it becomes

x + x - 10 = 50

2x = 50 + 10 = 60

x = 60/2 = 30

y = x - 10

y = 30 - 10 = 20