document.write( "Question 354067: Two athletes race around a 400-m track oval at a speed of 6 and 8 meters per second, respectively. How long will it take before the faster athlete gains one lap on the slower one? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #253086 by mananth(16946)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! speed of one athelete = 6 m/sec \n" ); document.write( "speed of second = 8 m.sec\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Since they are running in the same direction the effective speed = 8-6 = 2 m/s. \n" ); document.write( ".. \n" ); document.write( "It means runner 2 will catch up 2 meters every second. \n" ); document.write( ".. \n" ); document.write( "if he has to catch up 1 lap which is 400m he will take 400/2 = 200 seconds. \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "... \n" ); document.write( "There is another method of solution \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "Let runner 1 run x m when runner 2 is 400m ahead \n" ); document.write( "distance run by runner 2 will be x+400 \n" ); document.write( ".. \n" ); document.write( "speed of runner 1 = 6m/s \n" ); document.write( "speed of runner 2 = 8m/s \n" ); document.write( ".. \n" ); document.write( "The time taken is the same \n" ); document.write( "time = distance/speed. \n" ); document.write( "x/6 = (x+400)/8 \n" ); document.write( "8x=6(x+400) \n" ); document.write( "8x=6x+2400 \n" ); document.write( "8x-6x = 2400 \n" ); document.write( "x= 1200 m the distance run by runner 1 when runner 2 gains 1 lap. \n" ); document.write( "speed of runner 1 = 6 m/s \n" ); document.write( "time taken = 1200/6 = 200 seconds \n" ); document.write( ".. \n" ); document.write( "distance run by runner 2 = 1200+400 = 1600 m \n" ); document.write( "speed = 8m/s \n" ); document.write( "time taken = 1600/8 = 200seconds \n" ); document.write( "... \n" ); document.write( "The seond method is algebraic. the first is arithmetic. \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |