Question 886239
Two hikers start walking in opposite directions from the same place at the same time. The hiker heading west is walking 2 kilometers per hour faster than the hiker heading east. If they are 15 kilometers apart after 1.5 hours what is the rate of each hiker? Let x represent the rate of the westbound hiker and let y represent the rate of the eastbound hiker.
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Let x = rate of westbound hiker
and y = rate of eastbound hiker
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From: "The hiker heading west is walking 2 kilometers per hour faster than the hiker heading east."
x = y+2 (equation 1)
From: "they are 15 kilometers apart after 1.5 hours" we have
1.5(x+y) = 15 (equation 2)
substitute value of x from equation 1 into equation 2:
1.5(x+y) = 15
1.5(y+2+y) = 15
1.5(2y+2) = 15
2y+2 = 10
2y = 8
y = 4 kph (rate of eastbound hiker)
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rate of westbound hiker:
x = y+2
x = 4+2
x = 6 kph