Question

At 9:00 on Saturday morning, two bicyclists heading in opposite directions pass each other on a bicycle path.The bicyclist heading north is riding 6 km/hour faster than the bicyclist heading south. At 10:15, they are 42.5 km apart. Find the two bicyclists’ rates.

Answer 1

northbound bicyclist = 20 km/h; southbound bicyclist = 14 km/h

Explanation:

Answer 2

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Find the duration
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Time : 9:00am to 10:15am
Duration: 1hour 15 mins or 1.25hours

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Find difference in distance travelled between the two cyclists.
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Difference in speed = 6km/h
1 hour = 6 km
1.25 hours = 7.5km

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Find the distance the cyclist traveled
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42.5 - 7.5 = 35km
35km ÷ 2 = 17.5km

The slower cyclist traveled 17.5 km in the 1.25 hours

17.5 + 7.5 = 25 km

The faster cyclist traveled 25km in the 1.25 hours

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Find the speed of the slower cyclist
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1.25 hour = 17.5 km
1 hour = 17.25 ÷ 1.25
1 hour = 14km

The cyclist was traveling at 14km/h

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Find the speed of the faster cyclist
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1.25 hour = 25km
1 hour = 25 ÷ 1.25
1hour = 20 km

The cyclist was traveling at 20km/hour

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Answer: The speed were 14km/h and 20 km/h
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