Answer:
0.2 mi west of the flag pole.
Step-by-step explanation:
distance of runner A from pole = 6 mi east
velocity of runner A = 5 mi/h
distance of runner B from pole = 9 mi east
velocity of runner B = 8 mi/h
total distance = 9 + 6 = 15 mi
How far are the runners from the flagpole when they meet?
lets assume the time at which they both meet be T hours
- when they both meet at time = T hours,
the distance covered by runner A = speed x time = 5 x T = 5T
the distance covered by runner B = speed x time = 8 x T = 8T
- when both runners meet at time T hours the addition of the distance covered by them both will be equal to the total distance (15 mi)
distance by runner A + distance by runner B = 15 miles
5T + 8T = 15
13T = 15
T = 1.15 hours
- the time when both runners meet = 1.15 hours
- recall that when both runners meet ( at time T = 1.15 hours)
distance covered by runner A = 5T = 5 x 1.15 = 5.8 mi
distance covered by runner B = 8T = 8 x 1.15 = 9.2 mi
- when both runners meet at T = 1.15 hours
runner A is 5.8 mi east of his starting point
runner B is 9.2 mi west of his starting point
(all can be seen from the attached diagram)
- from the diagram attached we can see that they're meeting point would be at:
from runner A ⇒ 6 - 5.8 = 0.2 mi west of the flag pole.
or
from runner B ⇒ 9 - 9.2 = -0.2 = 0.2 mi west of the flag pole