Final answer:
To determine the distance apart after 7 minutes, we calculate the relative speed of two vehicles moving in opposite directions, which is 120 mph. Then we convert the time to hours (7/60) and multiply by their relative speed to find the answer: 14 miles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question revolves around the concept of relative speed in opposite directions. When the car and the motorcycle travel at the same speed in opposite directions, their relative speed is the sum of their individual speeds. In this case, both are traveling at 60 mph, so the combined speed is 120 mph.
To find out how far they will be apart after 7 minutes, first convert the time to hours since the speed is given in miles per hour (mph). There are 60 minutes in an hour, so 7 minutes is 7/60 hours. The distance apart can then be calculated as the relative speed multiplied by the time:
- Distance = Speed × Time
- Distance = 120 mph × (7/60) hours
Calculating this gives:
- Distance = 120 × 7/60
- Distance = 120 × 0.1167
- Distance = 14 miles
So, the correct answer is b. 14 miles.