Final answer:
It will take 52 seconds for Plane A, ascending at 17 meters per second from an initial altitude of 468 meters, and Plane B, ascending at 26 meters per second from the ground, to reach the same altitude.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate how many seconds it will take for Plane A, which starts at an altitude of 468 meters and ascends at 17 meters per second, to match the altitude of Plane B, which is ascending from the ground at 26 meters per second, we set up an equation that equals the altitudes of both planes over time. Let's assume t is the time in seconds after both planes have started climbing. We can express the altitude of Plane A as 468 + 17t and the altitude of Plane B as 26t. To find the time when the altitudes are equal, we set the expressions for altitudes equal to each other and solve for t:
468 + 17t = 26t
Moving like terms to one side, we get:
468 = 26t - 17t
468 = 9t
Now divide both sides by 9:
t = 468 / 9
t = 52 seconds
Therefore, it will take 52 seconds for Plane A and Plane B to reach the same altitude.