Question

Fred begins walking toward johns house at 3 miles per hour. John leaves his house at the same time and walks towards Fred’s house on the same path at a rate of 2 miles per hour. How long will it take before they meet if their houses are 4 miles apart?

Answer 1

It takes
`(4)/(5)` hours or 48 minutes before they meet if their houses are 4 miles apart

Solution:

Let "t" be the number of hours it will take them to meet

Walking speed of Fred = 3 miles per hour

Walking speed of John = 2 miles per hour

Distance between their house = 4 miles

Distance is given by formula:

Distance = speed x time

Fred distance = walking speed of Fred x time taken

Fred distance = 3t

John distance = walking speed of John x time taken

John distance = 2t

Therefore,

3t + 2t = 4

5t = 4

`t = (4)/(5)` hours

We know that,

1 hour = 60 minutes

Therefore,

`(4)/(5) \text{ hours } = (4)/(5) * 60 \text{ minutes } = 48 minutes`

Thus it takes
`(4)/(5)` hours or 48 minutes before they meet