document.write( "Question 782907: two friends live 1.5 miles apart along the same road. If they walk toward each other at rates that differ by 1/2 mph and meet 12 min later, how fast is each person walking?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I just need help setting up the equation. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #476593 by josgarithmetic(39620) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
12 minutes is $\"12%2F60\"$ hour, $\"1%2F5\"$ of an hour.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The sum of the walking distances done must be 1.5 miles.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "one rate is r and the other rate is $\"r%2B1%2F2\"$ .\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The time that each friend walks is the same, h, in hours.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"r%2At=d\"$ basic idea
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " $\"r%2Ah%2B%28r%2B1%2F2%29%2Ah=1.5\"$
\n" ); document.write( "We know that h=1/5 hour, so substitute this:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"highlight%28r%2A%281%2F5%29%2B%28r%2B1%2F2%29%281%2F5%29=1.5%29\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Try doing all as decimals.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"r%280.2%29%2B%28r%2B0.5%29%280.2%29=1.5\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"0.2r%2B0.2r%2B0.10=1.5\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"0.4r=1.5-0.10\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"0.4r=1.4\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"r=1.4%2F0.4\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"r=14%2F4=7%2F2\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"highlight%28r=3.5%29\"$ miles per hour
\n" ); document.write( "The other friend walks at 4.5 miles per hour. \n" ); document.write( "

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