document.write( "Question 256713: Two cyclists start at the same point and travel in opposite directions. One travels 4 mph faster than the other. In 4 hours, they are 112 miles apart. Find how fast each is traveling. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #188788 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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For the faster bicyclist:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"d%5B1%5D+=+r%5B1%5D%2At%5B1%5D\"$
\n" ); document.write( "For the slower bicyclist:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"d%5B2%5D+=+r%5B2%5D%2At%5B2%5D\"$
\n" ); document.write( "-----------------
\n" ); document.write( "given:
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"r%5B1%5D+=+r%5B2%5D+%2B+4\"$ mi/hr
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"t%5B1%5D+=+4\"$ hrs
\n" ); document.write( "(3) $\"t%5B2%5D+=+4\"$ hrs
\n" ); document.write( "(4) $\"d%5B1%5D+%2B+d%5B2%5D+=+112\"$
\n" ); document.write( "------------------
\n" ); document.write( "From (1), $\"r%5B2%5D+=+r%5B1%5D+-+4\"$
\n" ); document.write( "From (4), $\"d%5B2%5D+=+112+-+d%5B1%5D\"$
\n" ); document.write( "-----------------------
\n" ); document.write( " $\"d%5B1%5D+=+r%5B1%5D%2A4\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"112+-+d%5B1%5D+=+%28r%5B1%5D+-+4%29%2A4\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Substituting:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"112+-+r%5B1%5D%2A4+=+r%5B1%5D%2A4+-+16\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"2%2Ar%5B1%5D%2A4+=+112+%2B+16\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"r%5B1%5D+=+128%2F8\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"r%5B1%5D+=+16\"$
\n" ); document.write( "and, since
\n" ); document.write( " $\"r%5B2%5D+=+r%5B1%5D+-+4\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"r%5B2%5D+=+16+-+4\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"r%5B2%5D+=+12\"$
\n" ); document.write( "The faster bicyclist goes 16 mi/hr
\n" ); document.write( "The slower one goes 12 mi/hr \n" ); document.write( "

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