Math Problem Statement
Car A left Melbourne for Adelaide at 11:00 a.m. and travelled at an average speed of 70 km/h. Car B left Melbourne for Adelaide at 1:00 p.m. on the same day and travelled at an average speed of 90 km/h. At what time will Car B catch Car A?
Solution
We can solve this problem by determining when Car B will catch up to Car A. Let's break it down step by step:
Step 1: Calculate the head start of Car A
Car A leaves at 11:00 a.m., and Car B leaves at 1:00 p.m. Therefore, Car A has a head start of 2 hours before Car B starts.
During these 2 hours, Car A is traveling at an average speed of 70 km/h, so the distance Car A travels in those 2 hours is:
Step 2: Determine the relative speed
Car B is traveling faster than Car A. The relative speed at which Car B is closing the gap on Car A is:
Step 3: Calculate the time taken for Car B to catch up
To catch Car A, Car B needs to close the 140 km gap. The time it takes to do so is given by:
Step 4: Determine the time when Car B catches up
Since Car B left at 1:00 p.m., we add the 7 hours to this time:
Conclusion:
Car B will catch Car A at 8:00 p.m..
Would you like more details or have any questions about the solution?
Here are 5 related questions for further exploration:
- How far will Car A and Car B have traveled when Car B catches up?
- If Car B had started at 12:00 p.m. instead, when would it catch Car A?
- What is the total distance from Melbourne to Adelaide if Car B reaches Adelaide by 10:00 p.m.?
- How much time would it take for Car A to reach Adelaide at a constant speed of 70 km/h?
- If Car A increased its speed to 80 km/h, how would the catch-up time change?
Tip: When solving catch-up problems, always identify the head start and calculate the relative speed to find the time needed for one object to catch the other.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Relative Speed
Distance-Time Relationship
Algebra
Formulas
Distance = Speed × Time
Relative Speed = Speed of Car B - Speed of Car A
Time = Distance / Relative Speed
Theorems
-
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 6-8
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