Question

Joe bikes at the speed of 30 km/h from his home toward his work. If Joe's wife leaves home 5 mins later by car, how fast should she drive in order to overtake him in 10 minutes.

Answer 1

Answer:

45 mph

Step-by-step explanation:

This is a really good question to know the answer to. It is tricky and a bit indirect (which means you have to find something else before you can find the speed of the car.)

Let's keep track of what he does in the time allotted.

How far does Joe go in 5 minutes? That's the amount of time he's on the road before she is.

convert 5 minutes into hours. 5 minutes * 1 hour / 60 minutes = 1/12 of an hour

d = r*t

r = 30 km/hour

t = 1/12 hour

d = 30 km/hr * 1/12 hour = 2.5 km

Now she's about to start. She wants to catch him in 10 minutes

d = r*t

r = x mph

t = 10 minutes = 10 minutes * 1 hour * 60 minutes = 1/6 of an hour.

How far does he go in the 10 minute time?

d = 30 * 1/6 = 5 km

What is his total distance

5 km + 2.5 km = 7.5 km

Finally how fast does she need to go to catch him

d = 7.5 km

r = ?   This is what you are trying to find

t = 1/6 of an hour

d = r*t

7.5 km = r * (1/6)hour             divide by 1/6 hour

7.5 km // 1/6 hour = r

r = 7.5 * 6 = 45 mph