Car B begins moving at 2 mph around a circular track with a radius of 10 miles. Ten hours later, Car A leaves from the same point in the opposite direction, traveling at 3 mph. For how many hours will Car B have been traveling when car A has passed and moved 12 miles beyond Car B?A. \(4\pi – 1.6\)
B. \(4\pi + 8.4\)
C. \(4\pi + 10.4\)
D. \(2\pi – 1.6\)
E. \(2\pi – 0.8\)
It's possible to write the whole formula right away but I think it would be better to go step by step:
B speed: 2 mph;
A speed: 3 mph (travelling in the opposite direction);
Track distance: \(2*\pi*r=20*\pi\);
What distance will cover B in 10h: \(10*2=20\) miles
Distance between B and A by the time, A starts to travel: \(20*\pi-20\)
Time needed for A and B to meet distance between them divided by the relative speed: \(\frac{20*\pi-20}{2+3}= \frac{20*\pi-20}{5}=4*\pi-4\), as they are travelling in opposite directions relative speed would be the sum of their rates;
Time needed for A to be 12 miles ahead of B: \(\frac{12}{2+3}=2.4\);
So we have three period of times:
Time before A started travelling: 10 hours;
Time for A and B to meet: \(4*\pi-4\) hours;
Time needed for A to be 12 miles ahead of B: 2.4 hours;
Total time: \(10+4*\pi-4+2.4=4*\pi+8.4\) hours.
Answer: B.