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Nine hours after a runner and cyclist leave the house at the same time and head in the same direction, the cyclist is 63 miles ahead of the runner. If the cyclist's speed is three mph more than twice the the speed of runner, find the speed of the runner and the cyclist.

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Final answer:

The runner's speed is 4 mph, and the cyclist's speed is 11 mph, derived by setting up equations from the information that the cyclist is 63 miles ahead of the runner after 9 hours and that the cyclist's speed is three mph more than twice the runner's speed.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the speed of the runner and the cyclist, we'll use the given information to set up equations. We know the cyclist is 63 miles ahead after 9 hours and that the cyclist's speed is three mph more than twice the speed of the runner.

Let's denote the runner's speed as r miles per hour. Then, the cyclist's speed is 2r + 3 miles per hour. After 9 hours, the distances they traveled are 9r for the runner and 9(2r + 3) for the cyclist. Since the cyclist is 63 miles ahead:

9(2r + 3) - 9r = 63

By simplifying:

18r + 27 - 9r = 63

9r + 27 = 63

Subtracting 27 from both sides:

9r = 36

Dividing by 9:

r = 4 mph (runner's speed)

Now we can find the cyclist's speed:

2r + 3 = 2(4) + 3 = 11 mph (cyclist's speed)

Thus, the runner's speed is 4 mph and the cyclist's speed is 11 mph.

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