Question

Two cars A and B are 100m apart moving towards each other with

velocity 40m and 60m's respectively calculate the time the meet
each other and the time they are 100m apart in their opposite destinations. ​

Answer 1

Let car A's starting position be the origin, so that its position at time t is

A: x = (40 m/s) t

and car B has position at time t of

B: x = 100 m - (60 m/s) t

They meet when their positions are equal:

(40 m/s) t = 100 m - (60 m/s) t

(100 m/s) t = 100 m

t = (100 m) / (100 m/s) = 1 s

so the cars meet 1 second after they start moving.

They are 100 m apart when the difference in their positions is equal to 100 m:

(40 m/s) t - (100 m - (60 m/s) t) = 100 m

(subtract car B's position from car A's position because we take car A's direction to be positive)

(100 m/s) t = 200 m

t = (200 m) / (100 m/s) = 2 s

so the cars are 100 m apart after 2 seconds.