Question

Two cyclists, 68 miles apart, start riding toward each other at the same time. One cycles 3 miles per hour faster than the other, and they meet after 4 hours of riding.

a. Write an equation using the information as it is given above that can be solved to answer this problem. Use the variable r to represent the speed of the slower cyclist. __________________

b. What are the speeds of the two cyclists? __________________

Answer 1

9514 1404 393

Answer:

a) r + (r+3) = 68/4 . . . . equation to answer the question

b) r = 7, r+3 = 10 . . . miles per hour

Explanation:

a. The combined speed of the two cyclists is found from the time it takes for them to close the distance between them. The faster cyclist is traveling at (r+3) miles per hour.

speed = distance/time

r + (r+3) = 68/4 . . . . an equation to answer the problem

__

b. Solving the above equation helps us answer the question

2r +3 = 17 . . . simplify

2r = 14 . . . . . subtract 3

r = 7 . . . . . . divide by 2

r+3 = 10

The speeds of the two cyclists are 7 miles per hour and 10 miles per hour.