SOLUTION: The dreaded word problem. any help? thanks! Two hikers start from the same point and hike in opposite directions around a lake. The shoreline is 21 miles. One hiker walks .5

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Question 56439This question is from textbook college algebra
: The dreaded word problem. any help? thanks!
Two hikers start from the same point and hike in opposite directions around a lake. The shoreline is 21 miles. One hiker walks .5 pmh fast than the other hiker. How fast did each hiker walk if they meet in 3 hours? This question is from textbook college algebra

Answer by funmath(2933) About Me  (Show Source):
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Two hikers start from the same point and hike in opposite directions around a lake. The shoreline is 21 miles. One hiker walks .5 mph faster than the other hiker. How fast did each hiker walk if they meet in 3 hours?
:
Let's think about this, if they are going in opposite directions around a 21 mile lake then you can add their distances to get 21 miles. The formula for distance is highlight%28d=rt%29, where d=distance, r=rate, and t=time.
Both of their t=3
One's rate is:r
The other's rate is:r+.5
The equation to solve is:
3r+3(r+.5)=21
3r+3r+1.5=21
6r+1.5=21
6r+1.5-1.5=21-1.5
6r=19.5
6r/6=19.5/6
r=3.25
One went about 3.25 mph
The other went about 3.25+.5=3.75 mph
Happy Calculating!!!