Question

Tonisha leaves Maryville at 7:15 a.m. headed back to college
after summer break. Since she is towing a trailer with all of her
belongings, she is limited to an average speed of 45 mph. Her
friend Sheila leaves Maryville an hour later taking the same
route averaging the speed limit of 60 mph.
At what time will Sheila pass Tonisha?

Answer 1

So Tonisha leaves at 7:15 am and is driving at 45 mph

Sheila leaves at 8:15 am and is driving at 60 mph

We want to know what time Sheila will pass Tonisha

We can come up with two equations

So let's define x as the amount of time in hours that has passed after Tonisha left at 7:15

y would be the distance that they have travelled in 'x' time

So for Tonisha, we would have the equation

y = 45x

And for Sheila, it would be

y = 60(x-1)

Do you know how to solve a system of two equations?
Where those two lines intersect will tell you how many hours after Tonisha left and at what distance that Sheila catches up to Tonisha

Does that make sense?

Answer 2

So solve the system of equations, what do you get for x?

y = 45x
y = 60(x-1)

that tells you how many hours after Tonisha left, that Sheila will pass Tonisha