Question

A container ship left the Dania Pier and traveled north. An aircraft carrier left four hours later traveling at 30 mph in an effort to catch up to the container ship. After traveling for eight hours, the aircraft carrier finally caught up. What was the container ship's average speed?

a) 20 mph
b) 25 mph
c) 30 mph
d) 35 mph

Answer 1

To find the container ship's average speed, calculate the distance the aircraft carrier covered at 30 mph over eight hours (240 miles) and divide by the total time the container ship was traveling (12 hours), resulting in 20 mph.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks us to determine the container ship's average speed based on the time it takes for an aircraft carrier to catch up.

Since the aircraft carrier left four hours later and caught up in eight hours, it traveled for a total of eight hours. During this time, the container ship was traveling for twelve hours (four hours before the carrier left plus the eight hours the carrier was moving).

If the aircraft carrier travels at 30 mph and took eight hours to catch up, it covered 8 hours * 30 mph = 240 miles. The container ship, traveling for twelve hours to cover the same distance, would have an average speed of 240 miles / 12 hours = 20 mph. Therefore, option (a) 20 mph is the correct answer.