A ship traveling east at 25 mph is 10 mi from a harbor when another ship leaves the harbor traveling east at 35mph. How long does it take the second ship to catch up to the first ship?

Question

anonymous · Answer

I have the answer in the back of the book, but I don't know how they came to the answer and I want to know how and not just the answer.

anonymous · Answer

ok for some reason I was thinking that you could no add the 10

cwrw238 · Answer

oopss - i  must be tired - i made a mistake...

anonymous · Answer

it takes the second ship 1 hour to catch the first ship is that what you got?

anonymous · Answer

but I want to know how the book got that.

anonymous · Answer

i think i got it !

cwrw238 · Answer

ok 
the second ship will travel  10 + x miles in same time that first ship travels x miles
first ship: t = x/25 hours
2nd ship t = (x + 10)/35 hours
right?

anonymous · Answer

yeah

cwrw238 · Answer

so x/25 = (x+ 10)/ 35
35x = 25x + 250
x = 25 
t = x/25 = 25/25 = 1

anonymous · Answer

i got it !

anonymous · Answer

25(.4 + t) = 35t

cwrw238 · Answer

phew - i don't know why but i struggle with these speed / time /dist problems

anonymous · Answer

i found the time of the of the first then set the distances equal

cwrw238 · Answer

yes - thats a good method

anonymous · Answer

well thank you for your help! happy calculating!

cwrw238 · Answer

lol - yw