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The hare challenged the tortoise to a race from the water fountain to the park bench. In order to ensure a fair race, the tortoise will start 100 feet in front of the hare. The tortoise is walking at a rate of 2 feet per minute. The hare is walking at a rate of 6 feet per minute. a. How long will it take for the hare to catch up to the tortoise?

User Macks
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1 Answer

4 votes

Answer: 25 minutes

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Step-by-step explanation:

x = time that has gone by in minutes

y = distance from the hare's starting location

The slope of this line is m = 2 which is the tortoise's speed in feet per min. The y intercept is b = 100 as this is the tortoise's starting distance from the hare. Plug these into y = mx+b to get y = 2x+100.

The equation for the tortoise is y = 2x+100

The hare has a slope of m = 6, which is its speed, and a y intercept of b = 0. We go from y = mx+b to y = 6x+0 or just y = 6x.

The equation for the hare is y = 6x.

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Graph y = 2x+100 and y = 6x. Locate the intersection point. You should find it is (25,150). So this is why 25 is the answer.

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Alternatively, you can use algebra to solve for (x,y)

y = 2x+100

6x = 2x + 100

6x-2x = 100

4x = 100

x = 100/4

x = 25

It takes 25 minutes for the hare to catch up to the tortoise

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After x = 25 minutes go by, the hare has traveled

d = r*t = 6*25 = 150 feet

and in the same time, the tortoise has traveled

d = r*t = 2*25 = 50 feet

the difference 150 - 50 = 100 matches up with the 100 ft head start the tortoise got.

User Jusuf
by
4.5k points
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