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cnhs4
Jun 18, 2010, 11:43 AM
Two cyclists start biking from a trails start 3 hours apart. The second cyclist travels 10mph and starts 3 hours after the first cyclist who is traviling 6 mph. how much time will pass before the second cyclist catches up with the first from the time the second cyclist started biking?

Unknown008
Jun 18, 2010, 12:03 PM
You can try to draw a speed time graph to help you solve the problem.

Anyway, let's use algebra.

Let the distance x be the distance that the cyclists cover before they meet.
Let t be the time that elapses as from the first cyclist starts.

And remember that "distance = speed x time"

The distance that the first cyclist does is given by:

x = 6t

The distance that the second cyclist does is given by:

x = 10(t-3)

I used t-3 because he took 3 hours less than the first cyclist.

Now, solve the equations simultaneously to find the value of t.

Can you post what you get? :)