Question

Latasha and Nathan both leave the coffee shop at the same time, but in opposite directions. If Nathan travels 8mph faster than Latasha and after 9 hours they are 288 miles apart , how fast is each traveling

Answer 1

Let's use the formula:

distance = rate × time

Let's assume Latasha's rate of travel as "r". Then, Nathan's rate of travel would be "r + 8".

For Latasha:

distance = r × 9

For Nathan:

distance = (r + 8) × 9

According to the problem, the combined distance they traveled is 288 miles. So:

r × 9 + (r + 8) × 9 = 288

Simplifying the equation:

18r + 72 = 288

18r = 216

r = 12

So, Latasha's rate of travel is 12 mph, and Nathan's rate of travel is 20 mph (12 + 8).

Therefore, Latasha is traveling at 12 mph and Nathan is traveling at 20 mph.