Answer: their speeds are 3.5mph and 4 mph
Step-by-step explanation:
Since both friends live 3 miles apart along the same road, by the time they meet, they would have covered 3 miles.
Let x represent the speed of the slower friend.
If differ by half mile per hour, it means that the speed of the faster friend is (x + 0.5) mph
They meet after 24 minutes(24/60 = 0.4 hours)
Distance = speed × time
Distance covered by the slower friend in 0.4 hours is
x × 0.4 = 0.4x
Distance covered by the faster friend in 0.4 hours is
0.4(x + 0.5) = 0.4x + 0.2
Since the total distance is 3 miles, then
0.4x + 0.4x + 0.2 = 3
0.8x = 3 - 0.2 = 2.8
x = 2.8/0.8
x = 3.5 mph
The speed of the faster friend is
3.5 + 0.5 = 4 mph
