document.write( "Question 502209: Hello,
\n" ); document.write( "I am having trouble getting started on an equation:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "a two day marathon walk. total distance of the marathon is 26.2 miles. On the first day, Martha starts walking at 10:00am. she walks 4 miles per hour. Carol stars two hours later than Marhta but decides to run to catch up to Martha. Carol runs at a speed of 6 miles per hour.
\n" ); document.write( "a. write an equation to represent the distance Martha travels.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "b. write and equation to represent the distance Carol travels.
\n" ); document.write( "c. solve the system of equations to find when Carol will catch up to Martha.
\n" ); document.write( "d. Carol wants to reduce the time she takes to catch up to Martha by 1 hour. How can she do this by changing her starting time? How can she do this by changing her speed?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I am so confused on how to find a starting point to solve this problem. Can you help me write a systems of equations please? Thank you so much EG>
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Algebra.Com's Answer #338782 by oberobic(2304)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
d = r*t is the basic distance equation.
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\n" ); document.write( "M = Martha's distance.
\n" ); document.write( "M = 4 * t
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\n" ); document.write( "C = Carol's distance
\n" ); document.write( "C = 6 * t
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\n" ); document.write( "However, their times are different by 2 hr.
\n" ); document.write( "If M's time = t, then C's time = t-2.
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\n" ); document.write( "When C catches up, the two have gone the same distance.
\n" ); document.write( "M = C
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\n" ); document.write( "4*t = 6*(t-2)
\n" ); document.write( "4t = 6t -12
\n" ); document.write( "-2t = -12
\n" ); document.write( "t = 6
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\n" ); document.write( "So Carol catches up at the 24 mile post.
\n" ); document.write( "That would be 4 pm
\n" ); document.write( "Carol ran for 4 hours at 6 mph.
\n" ); document.write( "Martha walked for 6 hr at 4 mph
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\n" ); document.write( "Carol can catch up an earlier by leaving earlier or by running faster.
\n" ); document.write( "Leaving earlier is likely easier.
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\n" ); document.write( "Done.
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