Two planes left the same airport traveling in opposite directions. The first plane left the airport at 2 P.M. traveling at an average rate of 500 mph. The second plane left the airport at 4 P.M. traveling at an average rate of 550 mph. When will the planes be 3100 miles apart?
after x hours after 2PM, you want
500x + 550(x-2) = 3100
To find out when the planes will be 3100 miles apart, we need to determine the time it takes for both planes to cover a combined distance of 3100 miles.
Let's calculate the time it takes for the first plane to cover the distance:
Distance = Speed * Time
3100 miles = 500 mph * Time
Rearranging the equation to solve for Time:
Time = Distance / Speed
Time = 3100 miles / 500 mph
Time = 6.2 hours
Since the second plane departed two hours later, we need to subtract those two hours from the total time it takes for the planes to be 3100 miles apart:
Time = 6.2 hours - 2 hours
Time = 4.2 hours
Therefore, the planes will be 3100 miles apart after 4 hours and 12 minutes, or at 6:12 P.M.