Question 905176
A race car driver starts along a 50-mile race course traveling at an average speed of 90mph.
 Fifteen minutes later, a second driver starts along the same course at an average speed of 120mph
Will the second car overtake the first car before the drivers reach the end of the course?
:
Find how long it takes the 2nd car to overtake the 1st.
Change 15 min to .25 hrs
:
let t = travel time of the 2nd car
then
(t+.25) = travel time of the 1st car
:
When this happens they will have traveled the same distance.
Write a distance equation; dist = speed*time
120t = 90(t+.25)
120t = 90t + 22.5
120t - 90t = 22.5
t = 22.5/30
t = .75 hrs
:
Find how far the 2nd car travels in .75 hr
.75(120) = 90 mi, obviously he will not overtake the first in a 50 mi race