Two old RSM students are standing twenty feet apart when they spot Mrs. Rifkin.
If they immediately run in opposite directions at speeds of 180 feet per minute
and 120 feet per minute, how many minutes pass before they are 2420 feet apart?
To find the time it takes for the two old RSM students to be 2420 feet apart, we can set up the equation:
distance = speed × time
Let's call the amount of time it takes for the two students to be 2420 feet apart as 't' minutes.
The distance traveled by the student running at 180 feet per minute is 180t feet.
The distance traveled by the student running at 120 feet per minute is 120t feet.
Since they are running in opposite directions, the total distance between them is the sum of the distances traveled by both students:
180t + 120t = 2420
Combining like terms, we have:
300t = 2420
Dividing both sides by 300, we find:
t = 2420/300
Simplifying, we get:
t = 8.07
Therefore, it takes approximately 8.07 minutes for the two old RSM students to be 2420 feet apart.