Question

The tortoise and the hare run a 400 meter race. The tortoise runs at a steady rate of 1/2 meters per second while the hare runs at 5 meters per second. 300 meters into the race the hare is far ahead and stops to take a short nap. After a while it wakes up to see the tortoise nearing the finish. The hare immediately starts running and both animals arrive at the finish line at the same time. How many minutes did the hare nap?

Answer 1

Answer: 10 minutes

Step-by-step explanation: the tortoise travels at a rate of 1/2 a meter a SECOND or 30 meters a MINUTE. While the hare travels at 5 meters a SECOND or 300 meters a MINUTE. To find the rate the hare is traveling a minute you multiply 5 by 60 because there 60 seconds in a minute. To find the rate of the tortoise you multiply 1/2 by 60 because there is 60 seconds in a minute. In order for the tortoise (moving at 30meters a minute) to catch up to the hare (moving at 300m a minute) the hair must stop for 10 minutes. Because the tortoise would travel 300m after 10 minutes because it's traveling at a rate of 30m a minute. Hope this helped!