Question

José left Westcliffe on his bicycle riding at an average rate of 8 miles per hour five hours before his father left by automobile. The father overtook José in exactly one hour. At what average rate was José's father traveling? (The answer should be 48mph, but I don't understand how to make an equation for this.)

Answer 1

48 miles per hour

Explanation:

José left Westcliffe on his bicycle riding at an average rate of 8 miles per hour five hours before his father left by automobile. The father overtook José in exactly one hour. This means Jose was riding

5 hours + 1 hour = 6 hours.

Use formula

`D=r\cdot t,`

where

D = distance

r = rate

t = time

In Jose's case,

D = unknown

r = 8 miles per hour

t = 6 hours

Hence,

`D=8\cdot 6=48\ miles`

In Jose's father case,

D = 48 miles

r = unknown

t = 1 hour (father overtook José in exactly one hour)

Hence,

`48=r\cdot 1\\ \\r=48\ miles \ per \ hour`