SOLUTION: Here is the question I can't solve: A police person passes a speeding car and makes an immediate U-turn to stop the speeder. The police person has to drive 140/mph for four miles

Question 535122: Here is the question I can't solve: A police person passes a speeding car and makes an immediate U-turn to stop the speeder. The police person has to drive 140/mph for four miles in order to catch up to the speeding car. How fast is the speeding car traveling?
I feel like my teacher is leaving out some numbers to help me solve this problem. I mean how long did it take the cop to turn around? Heck my whole class is having trouble with this one. Its worth 20 bonus points and I need all the help I can get. Thx.
Answer by scott8148(6628) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
as you surmise, there is missing information

you have the speed and distance for the "catch up" so you can find the time

but if you don't know the speeder's "head start", you can't calculate his speed

even if "immediate" means no time for the U-turn; the p.p. goes from zero to 140 mph in zero time?

the only "definite" is that the speeder is going less than 140 mph
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