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Two cars travel from different locations at constant speeds. To meet each other after starting at the same time, they take 1.51.5 hours if they travel towards each other, but 10.510.5 hours if they travel in the same direction. If the speed of the slower car is 6060 km/hr, then the distance traveled, in km, by the slower car when it meets the other car while traveling towards each other, is

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 1

We have two cars starting from different locations, and we need to find how far the slower car travels when they meet while moving towards each other.

Given information:

Speed of slower car = 60 km/hr

Time to meet when traveling towards each other = 1.5 hours

Time to meet when traveling in same direction = 10.5 hours


When two objects move, we use relative speed to find when they meet:

Traveling towards each other: Relative speed = Speed₁ + Speed₂ (speeds add up)

Traveling in same direction: Relative speed = Speed₂ - Speed₁ (difference in speeds)

We can think of it this way: if we're walking towards someone, we both cover the distance between us faster than if we're chasing someone going in the same direction.


Let's call:

Speed of slower car = 60 km/hr

Speed of faster car = v km/hr

Initial distance between cars = d km

Case 1: Moving towards each other

Combined speed = 60 + v km/hr

Time = 1.5 hours

Distance equation: d=(60+v)×1.5d = (60 + v) \times 1.5

Case 2: Moving in same direction

Relative speed = v - 60 km/hr

Time = 10.5 hours

Distance equation: d=(v−60)×10.5d = (v - 60) \times 10.5


Since the initial distance is the same in both cases:

(60+v)×1.5=(v−60)×10.5(60 + v) \times 1.5 = (v - 60) \times 10.5

90+1.5v=10.5v−63090 + 1.5v = 10.5v - 630

90+630=10.5v−1.5v90 + 630 = 10.5v - 1.5v

720=9v720 = 9v

v=80v = 80 km/hr

So the faster car travels at 80 km/hr.


The question asks for the distance traveled by slower car when meeting while traveling towards each other.

This is simply: Speed × Time

Distance = 60×1.5=9060 \times 1.5 = 90 km


When the cars travel towards each other for 1.5 hours:

Slower car covers: 60×1.5=9060 \times 1.5 = 90 km

Faster car covers: 80×1.5=12080 \times 1.5 = 120 km

Total distance covered: 90+120=21090 + 120 = 210 km (this is the initial distance between them)

Therefore, the slower car travels 90 km when they meet.

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