Final answer:
Maria and Ming, driving at 51 mph and 45 mph respectively in opposite directions for 3 hours, will be 288 miles apart. You calculate the distance each travels and sum those distances to get the total separation between them.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question at hand involves determining the distance Maria and Ming will be apart after driving in opposite directions for 3 hours. To solve this distance problem, we use the concept of speed and time. Maria drives at a speed of 51 mph, and Ming drives at 45 mph.
Firstly, we calculate the distance Maria travels in 3 hours:
Distance = Speed × Time, which is Distance = 51 mph × 3 hours = 153 miles. Next, we calculate the distance Ming travels in the same time frame: Distance = 45 mph × 3 hours = 135 miles.
Since Maria and Ming are driving in opposite directions, we need to add their individual distances to find out how far apart they will be: 153 miles + 135 miles = 288 miles. So, they will be 288 miles apart after 3 hours, making option 3 the correct answer.