Question

Two cyclists, 96 miles apart, start riding toward each other at the same time. One cycles 2 times as fast as the other. If they meet 4 hours later, what is the speed (in mi/h) of the faster cyclist?

a. Write an equation using the information as it is given above that can be solved to answer this problem. Use the variable
r
r to represent the speed of the slower cyclist.

Answer 1

We use $d=rt$.  The distance covered is $96$ miles.  The rate is $r+2r=3r$, as both of the cyclists are covering part of this ground.  The time is $4$ hours.  So we have:

$3r*4=96$

$12r=96$

This is your equation, the solution to part (a).  

If you need to solve it, you can just divide by twelve, giving $r=8$.