Question

Two cyclists start at the same point and travel in opposite directions. One cyclist travels 4 mile per hour slower than the other. If the two cyclists are 56 miles apart after 2 hours, what is the rate of each cyclist.?

Answer 1

12 mph and 16 mph

Explanation:

distance = speed * time

56 = s * 2 + (s - 4) * 2

56 = 2s + 2s - 8

56 = 4s - 8

64 = 4s

16 = s

s = 16

s - 4 = 12

Answer 2

Let the speed of the faster bike = X

The slower bike would be x - 4 ( 4 mph slower)

Multiply each speed by time and add to equal total distance:

2x + 2(x-4) = 56

Simplify:

2x + 2x -8 = 56

4x -8 = 56

Add 8 to each side:

4x = 64

Divide both sides by 4:

x = 64/4

x = 16

The faster bike rode at 16 miles per hour

The slower bike traveled at 16-4 = 12 miles per hour