SOLUTION: If a tractor travels north at 20 mph and a scooter travels west at 35 mph but leaves an hour later, what is the equation of their distance if f(x) is in terms of time (hours)?

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Question 1038703: If a tractor travels north at 20 mph and a scooter travels west at 35 mph but leaves an hour later, what is the equation of their distance if f(x) is in terms of time (hours)?
Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
For t%3C=1, only the first tractor is moving.
D%5B1%5D=(0,20t)
D%5B2%5D=(0,0)
D%5B1-2%5D=(0,20t
abs%28D%5B1-2%5D%29=20t(0%3C=t%3C=1)
For t%3E1, both tractors are moving perpendicularly to each other,
tractor 1 is already 20 miles north of the starting point,
D%5B1%5D=(0,20t)
D%5B2%5D=(-35%28t-1%29,0)
D%5B1-2%5D=(35%28t-1%29,20t)
abs%28D%5B1-2%5D%29=sqrt%28%2835%28t-1%29%29%5E2%2B%2820t%29%5E2%29
abs%28D%5B1-2%5D%29=sqrt%281225t%5E2-2450t%2B1225%2B400t%5E2%29
abs%28D%5B1-2%5D%29=sqrt%281625t%5E2-2450t%2B1225%29(t%3E1)
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I used t as the time variable instead of x.