SOLUTION: A boat leaves a dock and travels at a rate of 36 kilometers per hour. Twenty minutes later a second boat leaves the same dock and travels the same route at 50 kilometers per hour.

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Question 581210: A boat leaves a dock and travels at a rate of 36 kilometers per hour. Twenty minutes later a second boat leaves the same dock and travels the same route at 50 kilometers per hour. How long will it take the second boat to be five kilometers behind the first boat?
Answer by scott8148(6628) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
in the 1/3 hr between departures, the 1st boat gets a 12 km head start ___ 1/3 * 36 = 12

the 2nd boat catches up at a rate of 14 km/hr ___ 50 - 36 = 14

the 2nd boat needs to catch up by 7 km to be 5 km behind ___ 12 - 5 = 7

at a closing rate of 14 km/hr, it takes the 2nd boat a half hr to close to 5 km ___ 7 / 14 = 1/2