SOLUTION: Two cyclists start out at the same time, 288 km apart and travel towards each other. If one cyclist travels 8 km/h faster than the other, they meet in 4 hours. Find the speed of ea

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: Two cyclists start out at the same time, 288 km apart and travel towards each other. If one cyclist travels 8 km/h faster than the other, they meet in 4 hours. Find the speed of ea      Log On


   

Question 756853: Two cyclists start out at the same time, 288 km apart and travel towards each other. If one cyclist travels 8 km/h faster than the other, they meet in 4 hours. Find the speed of each.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You can think of one cyclist as standing still and the other
approaching at the sum of their speeds
Let +s+ = the speed of the slower one in km/hr
+s+%2B+8+ km/hr = the speed of the faster one
---------------
+d+=+r%2At+
+288+=+%28+s+%2B+s+%2B+8+%29%2A4+
+288+=+8s+%2B+32+
+8s+=+256+
+s+=+32+
+s+%2B+8+=+40+
The faster one goes 40 km/hr
The slower one goes 32 km/hr