Question

Two cyclists leave city at same time, one going east and the other going west. The westbound cyclist bikes 3 mph faster than the eastbound cyclist. If after 6 hours they are 162 miles apart, how fast is each cyclist riding?

Answer 1

Speed of the east bound cyclist is 12 mph and the speed of west bound cyclist is 15 mph.

Solution:

Let us assume that x is speed of slower eastbound cyclist

So, x+3 will be the speed of faster westbound cyclist

We know that distance is the product of speed and time. That is,

$\text{Distance}=\text{Speed}\times\text{Time}$

West-bound DATA:

Rate of speed = x+3 mph ; Time = 6 hrs ; distance = 6(x+3) = 6x+18 miles

East-bound DATA:

Rate of speed = x mph ; time = 6 hrs. ; distance = 6x miles

On solving,

Distance apart = 162

$\Rightarrow6x+18+6x = 162$

$\Rightarrow12x=162-18$

$\Rightarrow x=\frac{144}{12}\rightarrow x=12$

So, the rate of speed of the east bound cyclist is 12 mph and the rate of speed of the west bound cyclist will be $x+3=12+3=15 \text{ mph}$