Question

If I am in a canoe race and my friend is a half mile ahead of me, if I paddle at 3.4 miles per hour and he paddles at 3miles per hour, when will i catch him?

Answer 1

Distance covered by me --- x
distance covered by friend -- x- 1/2

time taken by me = x/3.4
time taken by friend = (x-1/2)/3
but they are the same

x/3.4 = (x-1/2)/3
3.4x - 1.7 = 3x
.4x = 1.7
x = 4.25 miles

time = x/3.4 = 4.25/3.4 = 1.25 hrs or 75 minutes


check:
my distance covered = 1.25(3.4) = 4.25
friend's distance = 1.25(3) = 3.75,
which is 1/2 less, namely the distance he was ahead of me