SOLUTION: The posted speed is 45 mph. You are a cop First exit is 3.6 miles up the road. You pick up a car going 68 mph. 30 seconds after car passes. You take off to catch the car. Ho
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-> SOLUTION: The posted speed is 45 mph. You are a cop First exit is 3.6 miles up the road. You pick up a car going 68 mph. 30 seconds after car passes. You take off to catch the car. Ho
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Question 808888: The posted speed is 45 mph. You are a cop First exit is 3.6 miles up the road. You pick up a car going 68 mph. 30 seconds after car passes. You take off to catch the car. How fast do you need to go to catch the speeding car? Whatnisyourbaverag speed in the pursuit? Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source):
You didn't specifically say how long the cop has to catch the speeder. You make an implication that he has to get the job done before the speeder reaches the next offramp, but you don't actually say that is a parameter of the problem. Hence, the answer to the question as posed is any speed faster than 68 miles per hour.
However, if he has to catch the guy before the guy reaches the next offramp, then you have first assume that the speeder doesn't get on it and speed up significantly. Then you have to calculate how far the speeder will travel at the given speed in 30 seconds. You have to subtract that distance from the 3.6 miles total distance to the next off-ramp. Then the speeder's remaining distance to the offramp divided by his 68 mph speed has to be equal to the entire 3.6 miles divided by x, the average speed to catch up. Top speed for the cop cannot be determined, since you don't know the acceleration characteristics of the policeman's cruiser.
John
Egw to Beta kai to Sigma
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
