Question

Nil and Ethan are brothers. They left theirhome at the same time and drove to thesame beach. Nil drove at a speed of 30 milesper hour. Ethan drove at a speed of 20 milesper hour. Nil arrived at the beach 0.5 hourearlier than Ethan. What is the distancebetween their home and the beach?

Answer 1

Speed of Nil = 30 miles per hour

Speed of Ethan = 20 miles per hour

Let the time it took Ethan to reach the beach = x hour

The time it took Nil to reach the beach = (x - 0.5) hour

In order to calculate the distance between their home and beach, we use the distance formula in relation to speed and time

$\text{Distance}=\text{ sp}eed\times time$

Distance travelled by Nil:

$=30\text{ }\times(x-0.5)$

Distance travelled by Ethan:

$20\times x$

Since the distance travelled by both Nil and Ethan is the same,

Hence,

$\begin{gathered} 30\times(x-0.5)=20x \\ 30x-15=20x \\ 30x-20x=15 \\ 10x=15 \\ x=1.5\text{ hour} \end{gathered}$

So,

The time it took Ethan to reach the beach is 1.5 hour. and the time it took Nil to reach the beach is (1.5 - 0.5) hour which is 1 hour.