SOLUTION: Two cyclists begin traveling in the same direction on the same bike path. One travels at 20 miles per hour, and the other travels at 14 miles per hour. After how much time will t

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Question 167740This question is from textbook Algebra 1
: Two cyclists begin traveling in the same direction on the same bike path. One travels at 20 miles per hour, and the other travels at 14 miles per hour. After how much time will the cyclists be 15 miles apart?
d=rxt d-distance r-rate(speed) t-time
---------------r----t--d
20 mph bike--20--t--20t
14 mph bike--14--t--14t
--------------------------
14t + 20t = 15
34t = 15
34t ÷ 34 = 15 ÷ 34
t = .44
44 minutes This question is from textbook Algebra 1

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You're on the right track, but the book wants the distance that the two will be apart from each other. So this means that you subtract 14t from 20t to get 15 like this:


20t-14t=15


6t=15 Combine like terms on the left side.


t=%2815%29%2F%286%29 Divide both sides by 6 to isolate t.


t=5%2F2 Reduce.


t=2.5 Convert to decimal form


So in 2 and a half hours (or 150 minutes), the two bikers will be 15 miles apart from each other.