SOLUTION: A 7 AM two groups of hikers begin 21 miles apart and head toward each other. The first groups,hiking at and average speed of 1.5 MPH, carries tents, sleeping bags and cooking equip

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Question 716290: A 7 AM two groups of hikers begin 21 miles apart and head toward each other. The first groups,hiking at and average speed of 1.5 MPH, carries tents, sleeping bags and cooking equipment. The second group hikes at an average speed of 2 MPH and carries food and water. A what time will the 2 groups of hikers meet?
I know what they carry does not matter but I am not sure how to set up this problem, please help.
Answer by jndarrell(58) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Set your D=RT box chart. Hard to illustrate here but attempt:

............RATE......TIME
1st group: 1.5........x
2nd group: 2..........x
Total distance is 21miles. Since you have been provided a total distance in the problem...you sum the R*T of both groups and set them equal to your total distance (21miles)
If D=RT, then multiply each groups rate by time respectively.
1.5x + 2x = 21
SIMPLIFY
3.5x=21
DIVIDE BOTH SIDES BY 3.5 TO GET 'X' ALONE
x=6
Always remember when writing your solutions to include the units. To check your work plug your solution back into the D=RT equation and it should = your total miles provided.