SOLUTION: I'm attempting to help my daughter with her homework, please HELP. A migrating elephant herd started moving at a rate of 6 miles per hour. One elephant stood still and was left

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Question 100667This question is from textbook Algebra I
: I'm attempting to help my daughter with her homework, please HELP.
A migrating elephant herd started moving at a rate of 6 miles per hour. One elephant stood still and was left behind. Then this stray elephant sensed danger and began running at a rate of 10 miles per hour to reach the herd. The stray caught up in 5 minutes.
Q. How long (in hours) did the stray run to catch up? How far did it run?
A. The stray caught up in 5 minutes which is (5/60= 1/12 hr). He ran .83 of a mile (1/12 x 10 miles/hr = 10/12=0.83.
Q. Find the distance that the herd traveled while the stray ran to catch up. Then write an expression for th total distance the herd traveled. Let x represent the distance (in miles) tha the herd traveled while the stray elephant stood still.
A. Is the distance 6 miles/hr x 1/12miles = 6/12 = .5 miles? Please help me write the equation. I think I'm solving this, but I need help to make sure.
Thanks in advance,
This question is from textbook Algebra I

Found 2 solutions by oberobic, stanbon:
Answer by oberobic(2304)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
When the stray elephant caught it, it had traveled the same distance as the herd. Otherwise, it would not have caught up with them. (Right?)
Therefore, the herd had to have walked .83 of a mile. At 6 miles per hr, the herd covers 1 mile every 10 minutes. So they had walked for 8.3 minutes at 6 miles per hour to cover .83 miles.
Think of the basic equation: d = r * t. Distance = Rate * Time. We know the herd traveled .83 miles and that they traveled at 6 miles/hr. So we divide .83 by 6 and get .138333 hours. Times 60 min/hr, we get 8.3 minutes.
With a problem like this one, it is a good idea to get everything into the right units of measure. Then looking at the units of measure you need in your answer should help you decide what to do next.
So, the equation for the distance traveled would be: d = 6 mi/hr * .138333 hr.

Answer by stanbon(75887)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Q. Find the distance that the herd traveled while the stray ran to catch up. Then write an expression for th total distance the herd traveled. Let x represent the distance (in miles) that the herd traveled while the stray elephant stood still.
A. Is the distance 6 miles/hr x 1/12miles = 6/12 = .5 miles?
Yes; that is the distance the herd ran while the lone elephant was running.
Please help me write the equation.
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EQUATION: Total distance the herd ran = [x + (1/2)] miles
==================
Cheers,
Stan H.

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