Question

A tourist being chased by an angry bear is running in a straight line toward his car at a speed of 4.38 m/s. The car is a distance d away. The bear is 25.4 m behind the tourist and running at 5.88 m/s. The tourist reaches the car safely. What is the maximum possible value for d?

I know the equations I need are...

d + x = v(bear) * t
d = v(person) * t

I just don't know what to do with them.

Answer 1

The distance between tourist and bear "closes" at a rate of 1.5 m/s. It becomes zero at time T = 25.4/(1.5 m/s). In that time, the tourist runs
4.38 m/s * T = (4.38/1.5)*25.4 = 74.2 m. That is the longset possible distance without being caught.