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| Question 288054:  A----------60m-------------C------40m-------B
 
 Alphonse starts at point A and runs at a constant rate towards point C. At the same time, Brigitte starts at point B and runs towards point C also at
 a constant rate. They arrive at C at exactly the same moment. If they continue running in the same directions, Alphonse arrives at B exactly 10 seconds before Brigitte arrives at A. How fast was Brigitte running?
 (A) 3 m/s (B) 10/3 m/s (C) 13/3 m/s (D) 5 m/s (E) Not enough information
 Answer by stanbon(75887)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! A----------60m-------------C------40m-------B Alphonse starts at point A and runs at a constant rate towards point C. At the same time, Brigitte starts at point B and runs towards point C also at
 a constant rate. They arrive at C at exactly the same moment.
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 1st leg:
 Alphonse DATA:
 distance = 60m ; rate = a m/sec ; time = 60/a seconds
 Brigitte DATA:
 distance = 40m ; rate = b m/sec ; time = 40/b seconds
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 1st leg Equation:
 60/a = 40/b
 a = (3/2)b
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 If they continue running in the same directions, Alphonse arrives at B exactly 10 seconds before Brigitte arrives at A. How fast was Brigitte running?
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 Total trip:
 Alphonse DATA:
 distance = 100m ; rate = a m/sec ; time = 100/a m/sec
 Brigitte DATA:
 distance = 100m ; rate = b m/sec ; time = 100/b m/sec
 Total trip Equation:
 Brit time - Alphon time = 10 sec.
 100/b - 100/a = 10 sec
 Multiply thru by ab to get:
 100a - 100b = 10ab
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 Substitute for "a" and solve for "b":
 100(3/2)b - 100b = 10(3/2)b^2
 (1/2)100b = 15b^2
 15b^2 - 50b = 0
 b(15b-50) = 0
 b = 0 or b = 50/15 = 10/3
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 Brigitte rate = 10/3 meters/sec
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 Cheers,
 Stan H.
 
 
 (A) 3 m/s (B) 10/3 m/s (C) 13/3 m/s (D) 5 m/s (E) Not enough information
 
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