Calculating Distance and Time for Meeting at Constant Velocities

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves two individuals traveling towards a restaurant located between their buildings, which are four equal-length blocks apart. Each person has a different walking speed, with one traveling at 1.2 m/s and the other at 1.6 m/s. The goal is to determine the distance from one building to the restaurant in blocks.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the distances each person travels and how to express these distances in terms of variables. Questions arise about the missing distance information and how to relate time and speed to distance.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring various interpretations of the problem. Some have proposed equations based on their understanding of distance, speed, and time, while others are clarifying the relationships between these variables. There is no explicit consensus yet, but guidance has been offered regarding the use of algebraic expressions.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the lack of specific distance values and the need to express time as a variable. The problem constraints are acknowledged, particularly the requirement to work with blocks as a unit of distance.

Manh
Messages
62
Reaction score
0
You and your friend are in building four equal-length blocks apart, and you meet for lunch. Friend is 1.2 m/s and you are 1.6 m/s. The restaurant is between the two building and you and your friend will arrive at the same instant if both of you leave the buildings at the same instant. In blocks, how far from your building is the restaurant?

Can anyone guide me how to solve this problem? Thanks!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Manh said:
You and your friend are in building four equal-length blocks apart, and you meet for lunch. Friend is 1.2 m/s and you are 1.6 m/s. The restaurant is between the two building and you and your friend will arrive at the same instant if both of you leave the buildings at the same instant. In blocks, how far from your building is the restaurant?

Can anyone guide me how to solve this problem? Thanks!
Let's say that you travel a distance, x. What distance does your friend travel?
 
The problem only provide me blocks but it does not provide me distance x? Therefore, it's the problem!
 
Manh said:
The problem only provide me blocks but it does not provide me distance x? Therefore, it's the problem!
Distance for this problem is in units of blocks.

I repeat: Let's say that you travel a distance, x. What distance does your friend travel?
 
I think my friend travel in 4x? Can you give me second hint?
 
Manh said:
I think my friend travel in 4x? Can you give me second hint?
No way is it 4x. Can't give much bigger hint than I gave.

Total distance traveled by the two of you is 4 (blocks).

You travel x (blocks). How far does your friend travel?
 
Oh, is it 4 - x?
 
Manh said:
Oh, is it 4 - x?
Yes it is.

If each of you walks for a time, t, what distance does each of you walk?
 
So, my friend walk 4 - x and I walk x.
 
  • #10
Manh said:
So, my friend walk 4 - x and I walk x.
You already gave that answer.

The problem gives a walking speed for each of you. Based on those speeds:
If each of you walks for a time, t, what distance does each of you walk?​
 
  • #11
Do I need the formula v=x/t to find our distances?
 
  • #12
Manh said:
Do I need the formula v=x/t to find our distances?
Solve that for distance.
 
  • #13
The formula of distance is x = v * t. What do I plug in for t when it is not given?
 
  • #14
Manh said:
The formula of distance is x = v * t. What do I plug in for t when it is not given?
but v is given numerically.

just use the variable t.

Do you have much experience with algebra ?
 
  • #15
Oh, I see what I need to do this part now! I will have my answers in a moment.
 
  • #16
I got t=10/7. Is it correct? If so, should I express it in a decimal number?
 
  • #17
Manh said:
I got t=10/7. Is it correct? If so, should I express it in a decimal number?
It may be the correct answer for something.

That certainly isn't the correct answer for what I asked.

There should be two answers, one for you, one for your friend.

If you travel at 1.6 m/s, what distance do you travel in a time of t (seconds) ?

If your friend travels at 1.2 m/s, what distance does your friend travel in a time of t (seconds) ?
 
  • #18
These are my equations:
- My distance: x = 1.6*t
- My friend's distance 4 - x = 1.2*t
4 - 1.6t = 1.2t

From there, I solve for t to plug it back into my distance's equation. Am I correct?
 

Similar threads

Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
5K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K