Help with this equation ?

Question

Two runners, Jay and Ben, start at the same time from opposite ends of an 8-mile jogging trail and begin running toward each other. Jay is running at the rate of 5 mph, and Ben is running at a rate of 7 mph. How long, in minutes, after they start will Jay and Ben meet?

How do I set up this equation algabraically

Answer 1

The distance covered by Jay in t hours is 5t miles (distance = rate * time).

The distance covered by Ben in t hours is 7t miles.

They meet when the sum of these distances is 8 miles.

5t + 7t = 8.

That is very easy to solve for t. As t is in hours, multiply by 60 to get minutes.