Question 987623
A jet plane traveling at 500 mph overtakes a propeller plane traveling 150 mph that had a 2 hr head start.
 How far from the starting point are planes?
: 
let t = travel time of the jet
then
(t+2) = travel time of the prop
:
When the jet overtakes the prop, they will have traveled the same dist
Write a dist equation, dist = speed * time
500t = 150(t+2)
500t = 150t + 300
500t - 150t = 300
350t = 300
t = 300/350
t = .857 hrs travel time of the jet
Find the distance from the starting point
.857 * 500 = 428.6 mi
:
check this by finding the distance using the prop which flew 2 hrs longer
2.857 * 150 = 428.6 mi also, confirms our solution