SOLUTION: A plane left the airport at 3 P.M., flying west at the rate of 250 mph. At 3:30 P.M., another plane left the airport flying west at 300 mph. At what time did the second plane overt

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Question 901201: A plane left the airport at 3 P.M., flying west at the rate of 250 mph. At 3:30 P.M., another plane left the airport flying west at 300 mph. At what time did the second plane overtake the first plane?
Answer by josgarithmetic(39618) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
This solution analysis will use time quantities instead of points in time.
Thirty minutes means half hour.

____________________speed____________time___________distance
EARLY_______________250______________t+1/2__________d=250%28t%2B1%2F2%29
LATE________________300_______________t_____________d=300t

Using RT=D rule for uniform rates of travel,

The distance will be equal when the late plane going faster, overtakes
the earlier plane going slower.

Solve for t in the equation, highlight%28250%28t%2B1%2F2%29=300t%29.
First simplification, 5%28t%2B1%2F2%29=6t.