SOLUTION: two friends live 1.5 miles apart along the same road. If they walk toward each other at rates that differ by 1/2 mph and meet 12 min later, how fast is each person walking? I ju

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Question 782907: two friends live 1.5 miles apart along the same road. If they walk toward each other at rates that differ by 1/2 mph and meet 12 min later, how fast is each person walking?
I just need help setting up the equation.
Answer by josgarithmetic(39618) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
12 minutes is 12%2F60 hour, 1%2F5 of an hour.

The sum of the walking distances done must be 1.5 miles.
one rate is r and the other rate is r%2B1%2F2.
The time that each friend walks is the same, h, in hours.
r%2At=d basic idea

r%2Ah%2B%28r%2B1%2F2%29%2Ah=1.5
We know that h=1/5 hour, so substitute this:
highlight%28r%2A%281%2F5%29%2B%28r%2B1%2F2%29%281%2F5%29=1.5%29
Try doing all as decimals.
r%280.2%29%2B%28r%2B0.5%29%280.2%29=1.5
0.2r%2B0.2r%2B0.10=1.5
0.4r=1.5-0.10
0.4r=1.4
r=1.4%2F0.4
r=14%2F4=7%2F2
highlight%28r=3.5%29 miles per hour
The other friend walks at 4.5 miles per hour.