Question

Vic can beat Harold by one tenth of a mile in a two mile race. Harold can beat Charlie by one fifth of a mile in a two mile race. If Vic races Charlie, how far ahead will Vic finish?

A)
0.15 miles
(B)
0.22 miles
(C)
0.25 miles
(D)
0.29 miles
(E)
0.33 miles

I find 0.31 miles tell me what is wrong please:
v/h=(2 1/10)/2 = 1.05
h/c=(2 1/5)/2=1.1
v/h * h/c= v/c
1.05*1.1=1.155
v/2=1.155
v=2.31

so 0.31 miles more then charlie?

Answer 1

Your mistake is right at the start:
v/h=(2 1/10)/2 = 1.05
Harold did not run 2 miles, since Victor stopped the race when he won. You should have said
v/h= 2/(1 9/10)
which makes a small difference. Same for Harold and Charlie.