SOLUTION: A jet plane traveling at 500 mph over takes a propeller plane traveling at 200 mph that had a 2 hour head start. How far from the starting point are the planes? The planes are _

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Question 1066335: A jet plane traveling at 500 mph over takes a propeller plane traveling at 200 mph
that had a 2 hour head start. How far from the starting point are the planes?
The planes are _____miles from the starting point.
Answer by ikleyn(52788) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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A jet plane traveling at 500 mph over takes a propeller plane traveling at 200 mph
that had a 2 hour head start.
How far from the starting point are the planes?
The planes are _____miles from the starting point.
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One line solution - formula: 

d = %28%282%2A200%29%2F%28500-200%29%29%2A500 = %28400%2F300%29%2A500 = 2000%2F3 = 666.66 miles.

Explanation 

2*200 in the numerator is the distance "ahead" for the slower plane at the moment when the faster plane starts.

The difference 500-200 = 300 in the denominator is the relative speed.

The ratio %282%2A200%29%2F%28500-200%29 is the time for the faster plane to catch the slower one.

The very left side of the formula is the distance at which the faster plane catches the slower one.

Solved.