Please Help Me With Basic Physics?

Question

Runner A is initially 8.8km west of a flagpole and is running with a constant velocity of 8.4km/h due east. Runner B is initially 7.4km east of the flagpole and is running with a constant velocity of 2.2 km/h due west. What will be the distance of the two runners from the flagpole when their paths cross?

Answer 1

Initial distance between runners = 8.8 + 7.4 = 16.2 km.

Let

x = distance that runner A has ran when crossing runner B

Therefore, the distance that runner B has done when crossing runner A = (16.2 - x)

Using the formula

Distance = Rate * Time

For runner A,

x = 8.4Ta --- call this Equation 1

For runner B,

(16.2 - x) = 2.2Tb --- call this Equation 2

where

Ta = time for runner A to cross runner B

Tb = time for runner B to cross runner A

We have more unknowns than equations that can be formulated.  Given the limited data in the problem, it is not possible to offer a solution since we have only two equations with 3 unknowns.

Hope this analysis helps.