Beginning Algebra

[sandyk109]

A messenger left a construction site and traveled by jeep at 51 km/h. Forty minutes later it was discovered that she had been given the wrong parcel. How fast must a second messenger travel to overtake her in one hour?

First messenger had traveled 2/3 of an hour. In one hour the first messenger would have traveled 68 km/s.

I added 17 to 68 and tht gave me 85. This is the correct answer as stated in the back of the book.

But I didn't use Algebra to get the answer.

Please show me how to set this problem and how to find the answer the correct way.

Thanks

 

[galactus]

You did good. There are various ways to set it up. One of the easiest may be to consider that the first messenger will have traveled for 5/3 hours before he's caught by the second. While the second is travelling for 1 hour. The second messenger catches the first when their distances are the same.

51(5/3)=r(1). Solve for r. r=85