SOLUTION: Betty leaves her purse in a store at the mall and averages 36mi/h on her way home to Glenville, 140 miles away. Honest Harry discovers her purse and starts after her one hour later

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Question 845352: Betty leaves her purse in a store at the mall and averages 36mi/h on her way home to Glenville, 140 miles away. Honest Harry discovers her purse and starts after her one hour later. If he averages 48mi/h, how long will it take him to catch Betty ? Will he catch her before she reaches Glenville ?
Answer by josgarithmetic(39618) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
R*T=D for Rate, Time, Distance.

_____________speed________time_________distance
Betty________36___________t+1__________36(t+1)
Harry________48____________t___________48t

When will Harry reach Betty?
36%28t%2B1%29=48t
36t%2B36=48t
48t-36t=36
12t=36
highlight%28t=3%29
-
Is Harry's distance less than 140 miles?
48%2At=48%2A3=144;
NO. If his calculated distance were less than 140 miles, he would have reached Better before she arrived home, but in this example, Betty already arrived home.