SOLUTION: A race car driver starts along a 50-mile race course traveling at an average speed of 90mph. Fifteen minutes later, a second driver starts along the same course at an average speed

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Question 905176: A race car driver starts along a 50-mile race course traveling at an average speed of 90mph. Fifteen minutes later, a second driver starts along the same course at an average speed of 120mph. Will the second car overtake the first car before the drivers reach the end of the course?

Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A race car driver starts along a 50-mile race course traveling at an average speed of 90mph.
Fifteen minutes later, a second driver starts along the same course at an average speed of 120mph
Will the second car overtake the first car before the drivers reach the end of the course?
:
Find how long it takes the 2nd car to overtake the 1st.
Change 15 min to .25 hrs
:
let t = travel time of the 2nd car
then
(t+.25) = travel time of the 1st car
:
When this happens they will have traveled the same distance.
Write a distance equation; dist = speed*time
120t = 90(t+.25)
120t = 90t + 22.5
120t - 90t = 22.5
t = 22.5/30
t = .75 hrs
:
Find how far the 2nd car travels in .75 hr
.75(120) = 90 mi, obviously he will not overtake the first in a 50 mi race

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