Two cars entered an interstate highway at the same time at different locations and traveled in the same direction. The initial distance between the cars was 30 miles. The first car was going 70 miles per hour and the second was going 60 miles per hour. How long will it take for the first car to catch the second one?

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Mathematics

1 October, 07:25

Two cars entered an interstate highway at the same time at different locations and traveled in the same direction. The initial distance between the cars was 30 miles. The first car was going 70 miles per hour and the second was going 60 miles per hour. How long will it take for the first car to catch the second one?

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Holly Snyder · Answer 1

Answer: it will take 0.23 hours for the first car to catch the second one.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let t represent the time it will take for the first car to catch the second one.

The initial distance between the cars was 30 miles. This means that by the time both cars meet, they would have covered a total distance of 30 miles.

Distance = speed * time

The first car was going 70 miles per hour.

Distance covered by the first car after t hours is

70 * t = 70t

The second was going 60 miles per hour. Distance covered by the second car after t hours is

60 * t = 60t

Since the total distance covered is 30 miles, then

70t + 60t = 30

130t = 30

t = 30/130 = 0.23 hours