In this problem, we need to determine how long it takes for Margaret to be 30 miles ahead of Victoria.

Step-by-step process:

1. Relative speed: Since Victoria is driving at 55 mph and Margaret is driving at 70 mph, the relative speed between them is the difference in their speeds: $\text{Relative speed} = 70 \, \text{mph} - 55 \, \text{mph} = 15 \, \text{mph}$ This means that Margaret is getting 15 miles further ahead of Victoria every hour.

2. Time to be 30 miles ahead: To find how many hours it takes for Margaret to be 30 miles ahead, we use the formula: $\text{Time} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Relative speed}} = \frac{30 \, \text{miles}}{15 \, \text{mph}} = 2 \, \text{hours}$

Answer:

It will take 2 hours for Margaret to be 30 miles ahead of Victoria.

Would you like further details on this type of problem? Here are some related questions:

1. How do you calculate relative speed in problems involving two objects moving in the same direction?
2. If they were moving toward each other, how would you calculate the relative speed?
3. What happens if Victoria’s speed increases? How does this affect the time?
4. Can you apply this concept to problems where the distance is given instead of the time?
5. How would the result change if Margaret’s speed was only 60 mph instead?

Tip: When solving these types of problems, always ensure to first find the relative speed (difference in speeds for same-direction motion). This is key to solving the problem efficiently.