<PRE><B>Question 411051</B>
A jet plane traveling at 500 mph overtakes a propeller plane traveling at 200 mph that had a 2 hour head start.
 How far from the starting point are the planes?
:
Let d = distance from starting point
: 
Write a time equation; time = dist/speed
:
jet time + 2 hrs = prop time
{{{d/500}}} + 2 = {{{d/200}}}
Multiply equation by 1000:
1000*{{{d/500}}} + 1000(2) = 1000*{{{d/200}}} 
Cancel the denominators, 
2d + 2000 = 5d
2000 = 5d - 2d
2000 = 3d
d = {{{2000/3}}}
d = 666.67 miles from start
:
:
Check solution by finding the actual time of each:
666.67/200 = 3.33 hrs
666.67/500 = 1.33 hrs
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time differ: 2 hrs</PRE>