Two diplomats fly towards each other for a meeting, both leaving at the same time. The first jet travels at a rate of 350 mph, while the second flies at a rate of 420 mph. If they started out 5300 miles apart, how long will it take for them to meet?
Round to the nearest tenth if necessary.

Question

Two diplomats fly towards each other for a meeting, both leaving at the same time. The first jet travels at a rate of 350 mph, while the second flies at a rate of 420 mph. If they started out 5300 miles apart, how long will it take for them to meet?
Round to the nearest tenth if necessary.

jamesj · Answer

So in this problem, at what rate are they approaching each other?

If your stuck with that question, ask yourself this: if I ride my bike towards you at a rate of 10 mph and you ride yours towards me at 15 mph, at what rate are we approaching each other?  At 25 mph.

Given that, at what rate are the diplomats approaching each other?

jamesj · Answer

hint: 25 = 15 + 10

Hence for the diplomats, the rate at which they approach each other is ... what?