Math Is Fun Forum

infinitebrain

Member

Registered: 2008-07-01

Posts: 153

Need someone to assist me with this question!

Bob left Colorado City, TX at 5:00 am driving towards Amarillo at an average speed of 68 mph. His sister left 5 minutes later and drove at an average rate of 75 mph. If Amarillo is 232 miles from Colorado City, how far were Bob and his sister from Amarillo when she caught up to him?
Here are the answer choices:
a. 178.43 miles
b. 60.71 miles
c. 115.49 miles
d. 53.57 miles
e. 171.29 miles
The only thing I'm really confused about is how do you model that she left 5 minutes later on a calculator?

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The best thing about life is you don't know what to expect

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

You could say that the time she has spent since starting the trip till they meet is 5 minutes shorter than the time he has spent since starting the trip till they meet.

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“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

infinitebrain

Member

Registered: 2008-07-01

Posts: 153

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

I keep plugging it in but it keeps saying they met at 48.5 miles, which doesn't connect with any answer choices. So, how am I plugging it in wrong?

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The best thing about life is you don't know what to expect

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

How are you setting up the equation?

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“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

Hi;

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,627

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

hi infinitebrain,

I always like to draw a distance / time graph for these questions.  see below.

Say the distance from Colorado when she overtakes is D miles and T hours after Bob starts.

Once you have worked out D, don't forget to give the answer from Amarillo.

Bob

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Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

infinitebrain

Member

Registered: 2008-07-01

Posts: 153

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

ohh! I get it Bob! I was confused on how you plug in the second equation, because I kept plugging in 75x - 5. Thank you all for helping me!

Last edited by infinitebrain (2012-11-11 11:47:00)

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The best thing about life is you don't know what to expect

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

Hi;

I am getting

as the answer...

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,627

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

Bob

---

Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

Hi anonimnystefy;

how far were Bob and his sister from Amarillo when she caught up to him?

You are correct I did not read that part of the problem. Very good!

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,627

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

Well, it was easy for me, as I remember that trip well.  My sister was still doing her hair or something when I set off.  As you can see, she drives somewhat recklessly, with only a nice hair do and a winning smile to protect her from an angry state policeman. 

Bob

---

Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

Hi;

I only drove through Texas once and was never in Colorado City, I was close by in Sweetwater though.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,627

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

hi,

Wiki says Sweetwater has a quidditch team.  Is that why you went there?

Bob

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Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

Hi Bob;

Not exactly, just passing through.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

hi,

Wiki says Sweetwater has a quidditch team.  Is that why you went there?

Bob

Americans have quidditch? I thought it was in the UK only. Will they ever join the interscholar turnaments?

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“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

Quidditch? I thought that was fictional.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

It is. You, on the other hand, underestimate the fandom.

Last edited by anonimnystefy (2012-11-12 12:53:15)

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“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

Fandom? I love that movie, "Fandom of the Opera!" Emmy Rossum is DDG.

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

No, that would be "fantom", not fandom.

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“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Need someone to assist me with this question!

You mean phantom. I still like the movie.

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.