SOLUTION: Runner A is initially 5.6 km west of a flagpole and is running with a constant velocity of 8.4 km/h due east. Runner B is initially 4.9 km east of the flagpole and is running wi

Question 1208219: Runner A is initially 5.6 km west of a flagpole
and is running with a constant velocity of
8.4 km/h due east. Runner B is initially 4.9
km east of the flagpole and is running with a
constant velocity of 7.5 km/h due west.
How far are the runners from the flagpole
when their paths cross?
Found 2 solutions by ikleyn, greenestamps:
Answer by ikleyn(52781) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
Runner A is initially 5.6 km west of a flagpole and is running with a constant velocity of 8.4 km/h due east.
Runner B is initially 4.9 km east of the flagpole and is running with a constant velocity of 7.5 km/h due west.
How far are the runners from the flagpole when their paths cross?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Total distance between the starting points is 5.6 + 4.9 = 10.5 kilometers. The approaching rate is 8.4 + 7.5 = 15.9 km/h. Time to get the crossing point is = 0.660377358 of an hour. The position of the crossing point is 5.6 - 8.4*0.660377358 = 0.052830193 km west from the flag pole, or 52.83 m west from the flag pole. The numbers are approximate.

Solved.

Answer by greenestamps(13200) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

The two runners are initially 5.6+4.9 = 10.5km apart; they are running towards each other at a rate of 8.4+7.5 = 15.9km/h. The time it will take the two to meet is the time it will take the two of them to cover the full 10.5km.

distance = rate * time
time = distance / rate = 10.5/15.9 = 105/159 = 35/53 hours

After 35/53 hours, the position of runner A will be 8.4(35/53) km east of his starting point 5.6km west of the flagpole. Use a calculator to find his position is (to several decimal places) .05283km west of the flagpole.

After 35/53 hours, the position of runner B will be 7.5(35/53) km west of his starting point 4.9 km east of the flagpole. Use a calculator to find his position is (to several decimal places) .05283km west of the flagpole.

ANSWER (to several decimal places): .05283 km

Nice problem for learning if the numbers were "nice"; as it is, the problem is mostly a waste of time.

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