SOLUTION: A jet plane traveling at 500mph overtakes a propeller plane traveling at 200 mph that had a 2 hour head start. How far from the starting point are the planes? I know I have to

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Question 411051: A jet plane traveling at 500mph overtakes a propeller plane traveling at 200 mph that had a 2 hour head start. How far from the starting point are the planes?
I know I have to use the d= r.t, but I don't understand how to write the equation to get the answer for this??

Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A jet plane traveling at 500 mph overtakes a propeller plane traveling at 200 mph that had a 2 hour head start.
How far from the starting point are the planes?
:
Let d = distance from starting point
:
Write a time equation; time = dist/speed
:
jet time + 2 hrs = prop time
+ 2 =
Multiply equation by 1000:
1000* + 1000(2) = 1000*
Cancel the denominators,
2d + 2000 = 5d
2000 = 5d - 2d
2000 = 3d
d =
d = 666.67 miles from start
:
:
Check solution by finding the actual time of each:
666.67/200 = 3.33 hrs
666.67/500 = 1.33 hrs
------------------------
time differ: 2 hrs

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