Question

Two cyclists leave towns 180 kilometers apart at the same time and travel toward each other. One cyclist travels 4 km/h slower than the other. If they meet in 5 hours, what is the rate of each cyclist?

Answer 1

We have the next formula

`\text{distance}=\text{rate}*\text{ time}`

In this case x is the faster speed and x-4 is the slower speed, we have the next equation

`180=5x+5(x-4)`

We simplify

`180=5x+5x-20`
`180=10x-20`

Then we need to isolate the x

`10x=200`
`x=(200)/(10)=20`

Then for x-4

20-4=16

The rates of the cyclists are

16 km/hr

20 km/hr