A motorboat leaves a harbor and travels at an average speed of 8 mph toward a small island. Two hours later a cabin cruiser leaves the same harbor and travels at an average speed of 16 mph toward the same island. In how many hours after the cabin cruiser leaves will the cabin cruiser be alongside the motorboat

Respuesta :

Answer:

2 hours.

Step-by-step explanation:

From the question given above, the following data were obtained:

Speed of motorboat (sₘ) = 8 mph

Speed of cabin cruiser (s꜀) = 16 mph

From the question given, we were told that the cabin cruiser started his journey 2 hours later after the motorboat has left.

Let t be the time for the cabin cruiser.

Thus, the time for the motorboat will be (2 + t)

Also, if the cabin cruiser and the motorboat must be along side each other, then their distance must be the same.

With the above information, we can obtain the time taken for the cabin cruiser and the motorboat to be along side each other. This can be obtained as follow:

Speed of motorboat (sₘ) = 8 mph

Time for motorboat (tₘ) = t + 2

Speed of cabin cruiser (s꜀) = 16 mph

Time for cabin cruiser (t꜀) = t

Distance of motorboat = distance of cabin cruiser

Recall:

Distance = speed × time

Therefore,

sₘ × tₘ = s꜀ × t꜀

8 × (t + 2) = 16 × t

Clear bracket

8t + 16 = 16t

Collect like terms

16 = 16t – 8t

16 = 8t

Divide both side by 8

t = 16 / 8

t = 2 hours

Thus, it will take 2 hours for the cabin cruiser and the motorboat to be along side each other.