A ford truck enters a highway and travels at a uniform speed of 50 mph. half an hour later a jaguar enters the highway at the same junction and heads in the same direction at 55 mph. how long after the ford entered the highway does the jaguar catch up with the truck?

Question

Physics

Jaylene Copeland

6 October, 19:56

A ford truck enters a highway and travels at a uniform speed of 50 mph. half an hour later a jaguar enters the highway at the same junction and heads in the same direction at 55 mph. how long after the ford entered the highway does the jaguar catch up with the truck?

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Answers (1)

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Siena Carson · Answer 1

Let the Jaguar travel for x hours to catch the truck.

Because the Jaguar begins to chase the truck after a half hour, the truck traveled for (x + 0.5) hours.

The distance the Jaguar traveled is

d₁ = (55 mph) * (x h) = 55x mi.

The distance the truck traveled is

d₂ = (50 mph) * (x + 0.5) = 50x + 25 mi

The two distances are equal, therefore

55x = 50x + 25

5x = 25

x = 5 hours

The Ford truck traveled for x+0.5 = 5.5 hours.

Answer: 5.5 hours