Question

A container ship left the Dania Pier and traveled toward St. Vincent. An aircraft carrier left six hours later traveling 9 km/h faster in an effort to catch up to it. After four hours the aircraft carrier finally caught up. Find the container ship's average speed.

Answer 1

6 km/hr

Explanation:

Let
`v_1` and
`t_1` be the average speed and the time of travel of the container ship, and
`v_2` and
`t_2` be the average speed and the time of travel of the aircraft carrier.

As the aircraft carrier left 6 hours later traveling 9 km/h faster in an effort to catch up to it and after 4 hours the aircraft carrier finally caught up.

`v_2=v_1 +9`

`t_2= 4` hr

and
`t_1-t_2=6+t_2=6+4=10` hr

As the distance covered by both is same, so

`v_1t_1=v_2t_2`

`\Rightarrow v_1* 10= (v_1+9)4`

`10v_1=4v_1+36`

`6v_1=36`

`v_1=6` km/hr

Hence, the speed of the container ship is 6 km/hr.