How do you do this math word problem?

Question

Steve starts out on his moped at the rate of 40 miles per hour. Two hours later, Bill drives along the same route at 55 miles per hour. In how many hours will Bill overtake Steve?

Is there paticular equation for this?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Well in 2 hours steve will have gone 80 miles. So how long will it take Bill to go 80 miles? then you just add the time it takes bill to go 80 miles and add it to two hours. I think this is right, it might not be. lols...sorry.

Answer 2

1] When they meet, they will have travelled the same distance,

so let this distance be D miles

2] Let Bill travel for x hours, so Steve will have travelled for

[x+2] hours.

Using distance travelled = average speed x time taken, Steve

has travelled 40[x+2] miles, and Bill has travelled 55x miles,so

55x=40[x+2], so

55x=40x+80, so

15x=80, so

x=80/15,so

x=5 1/3 hours, which si 5hrs 20 mins.

So Bill overtakes Steve in 5 hours and 20 minutes. Hope this

helps, Twiggy.

Answer 3

There is sort of an equation. It is simple:

(Distance Bill drives) = (Distance Steve drives)

You just have to put into mathematical terms what each of these are. Let's start with Steve. He is traveling at 40 mph so in time T he goes a distance 40T. Now Bill starts two hours after Steve (so his travel time is T - 2) and travels at 55 mph so the distance he goes is (T - 2)*55.

So: 40T = (T - 2)55
110 = 15T
T= 7 and 1/3 hours

Answer 4

let t be the time Steve leaves. Then t - 2 is the time Bill leaves. This is because Bill leaves 2hrs after Steve.

When Bill catches Steve, they are in position.

Steve = Bill

distance = speed * time

distance of Steve:
d = 40t

distance of Bill
d = 55(t-2)


40t = 55(t-2)
40t = 55t - 110
-15t = -110
t = 7 1/3 hr
so it would take Bill 7 1/3 - 2 = 5 1/3 hrs to catch Steve.

Answer 5

in two hours steve drives (40*2)=80 miles
let t be the time by bill to overtake steve.
bill has to travel 80 miles and the distance travelled by steve in t hours.
55*t=80+40*t
15t=80
t=5.3 hours

Answer 6

Distance covered by steve in 2 hours = 40 x 2 = 80 miles

Let time taken for bill to overtake steve be T;

Total distance covered by bill in time T = 55 x T;

Total distance covered by steve in time (2+T) = 80 + (40 x T);

=> 55 x T = 80 + 40T
=> 55T - 40T= 80
=> 15T = 80
=> T=80/15 = 8/3 hrs or 2.6667 hrs;

Ans = 2.667 hours

Answer 7

Bill starts two hours later. That means Steve has a lead of 80 miles. Bill drives faster by 15 miles per hour. To cover a distance of 80 miles he will take 5hrs. 33min. 33sec. [80 divided by 15]

Answer 8

d=rt
steve:r=40, t=x,d=40x
bill:r=55,t=x-2,d=55(x-2)

so:d=d
40x=55(x-2)
40x=55x=110
-15x=-110
x=7.33
x-2=5.33
put into each equation and you get 293.2 miles for steve and 293.2 miles for bill.
5.33 is the time for bill

Good luck!

Answer 9

WHY CANT YOU PEOPLE JUST PAY ATTENTION IN CLASS INSTEAD OF WANTING US TO ANSWER TE QUESTIONS FOR YOU???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

y do u need to know that?!