Question

Mitchell left Detroit on the interstate driving south towards Orlando at a speed of 60 miles per hour. Clark left Detroit 1 hour later traveling at a speed of 75 miles per hour, following the same route as Mitchell. How long will it take Clark to catch Mitchell?

Answer 1

Clark will take 5 hours to catch Mitchell

Explanation:

It is given that Mitchell drives south toward Orlando at a speed of 60 miles per hour.

It is also given that Clark left 1 hour later travelling at a speed of 75 miles per hour.

The time taken for Clark is $t-1$

Thus, the distance for Clark is $75(t-1)$

Clark catches Mitchell when their distances traveled are equal.

To determine the time it takes Clark to catch Mitchell is just to set the two distances equal.

$60 t=75(t-1)$

Multiply 75 within the bracket,

$60 t=75 t-75$

Subtracting both sides by 75t, we have,

$-15t=-75$

Dividing both sides by -15, we get,

$t=5$

Thus, Clark will take 5 hours to catch Mitchell.