Question
the speedy punt returner and the ferocious defensive player are headed straight toward each other. The punt returner is travling at a speed of 15 feet per second, while the defensive player is traveling at 12 feet per second. If the two are exactly 54 feet apart, in how many seconds will they collide?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
To find the time until the punt returner and the defensive player collide, we can use the relative speed between the two.
1. **Calculate the combined speed** of both players:
- Speed of the punt returner = 15 feet/second
- Speed of the defensive player = 12 feet/second
- Combined speed = 15 + 12 = 27 feet/second
2. **Determine the distance between them**:
- They are 54 feet apart.
3. **Calculate the time until collision** using the formula:
\[
\text{Time} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Speed}} = \frac{54 \text{ feet}}{27 \text{ feet/second}} = 2 \text{ seconds}
\]
Thus, the punt returner and the defensive player will collide in **2 seconds**.
1. **Calculate the combined speed** of both players:
- Speed of the punt returner = 15 feet/second
- Speed of the defensive player = 12 feet/second
- Combined speed = 15 + 12 = 27 feet/second
2. **Determine the distance between them**:
- They are 54 feet apart.
3. **Calculate the time until collision** using the formula:
\[
\text{Time} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Speed}} = \frac{54 \text{ feet}}{27 \text{ feet/second}} = 2 \text{ seconds}
\]
Thus, the punt returner and the defensive player will collide in **2 seconds**.