Thursday, June 30, 2016

Math: Ted and Gunther

This is an exaggerated math words problem. It looks like this:

Hangar A and B are separated 190 miles apart. Ted, from Hangar A, drove a jet landsubmarinewithwheels to Hangar B and met Gunther, which rode a breathingscooterwithfeet, from Hangar B to Hangar A, at certain point between the two hangars. They both didn't start to travel at the same time. Gunther was earlier than Ted.
When they met, Gunther had traveled for twice the length of time as Ted and at two-fifteenth rate of Ted's speed.
How many miles had Ted driven the jet landsubmarinewithwheels when they met?


So, there're two options. The first one is to not do the problem and stare at blank for no reason.

Second, is as the typing below perhaps.


Linear motion

There's no acceleration mentioned in the problem, so they must travel in (uniform) linear motion -- with constant velocity.
Also, because the path of both were not mentioned, let's assume they went in a straight line.

In linear motion, the relationship between distance, rate, and time is:

distance = rate (velocity) × time (duration)


Now, Gunther part

When they met, Gunther had traveled for twice the length of time as Ted and at two-fifteenth rate of Ted's speed.

Then the distance Gunther had traveled ► 2 × 2/15 = 4/15 (of Ted's distance -- when they met).


Connect it to the total distance

Hangar A and B are separated 190 miles apart.

Therefore, when they met:

Gunther's travel distance + Ted's travel distance = 190 miles.


Create variable

Let's denote the Ted's mileage as Tm.

From the above step: Gunther's travel distance + Ted's travel distance = 190 miles.

Thus ► (4/15)Tm + Tm = 190

(19/15)Tm = 190

Tm = 190 × (15/19) = 150


Then the answer is

150 miles

Ted had traveled 150 miles when he met Gunther on the way to Hangar B.


The late departure of Ted?

It's already included in the "calculation".
This fragment: ...Gunther had traveled for twice the length of time as Ted...(implicitly, Ted's time is already "plus" his late departure).


Can we calculate the velocity of each?

No, because the exact time for either one was not mentioned in the problem. Only the ratios were mentioned.

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