document.write( "Question 1127052: Hi!\r
\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "I have this college algebra problem that says:\r
\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Achilles races with a tortoise, giving the tortoise a handicap of 990 yards. Achilles runs at a rate of 500 yards per minute while the tortoise runs at the rate of 5 yards per minute. How long will it take Achilles to catch the tortoise?\r
\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Thank you! \n" );
document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #743389 by ikleyn(52817)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! . \n" ); document.write( " \r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( " The relative speed is 500 - 5 = 495 yards per minute.\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( " It is the rate of decreasing the distance between them, which initially was 990 yards.\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( " Hence, the time to catching up is\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "It is how physicists solve such problems (momentarily !)\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "In Algebra, the canonical way is to write equations . . . \r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \r\n" ); document.write( " Let t be the time under the question.\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( " Then the distance from the starting point of Achilles to the catching up point is 500*t yards.\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( " The tortoise will cover 5t yards, and it is 990 yards less then Achilles will cover.\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( " It gives you an equation\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( " 500t - 5t = 990,\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( " which you can easily solve\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( " 495t = 990 ====> t = 990/495, by obtaining the same answer t= 2 minutes.\r\n" ); document.write( "\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Solved.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "-------------------\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "See introductory lessons on Travel and Distance problems\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " - Travel and Distance problems \r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " - Travel and Distance problems for two bodies moving in opposite directions \r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " - Travel and Distance problems for two bodies moving in the same direction (catching up)\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "in this site.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "They are written specially for you.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "You will find the solutions of many similar problems there.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Read them and learn once and for all from these lessons on how to solve simple Travel and Distance problems.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Become an expert in this area.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |