Calculating the Time to Catch Up

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 52 views

Introduction

In this problem, we are presented with a scenario where Adele's friend Michelle has left to go to the bus station, which is 1 km away. Michelle walks at a speed of 5 km/hr, and Adele wants to catch up to her the moment she arrives at the station. To solve this problem, we need to determine how fast Adele should run to achieve this goal.

Understanding the Problem

Let's break down the problem and understand what's required. Michelle is walking at a speed of 5 km/hr, and she has a head start of 3 minutes. This means that when Adele starts running, Michelle will already be 1 km away from the starting point. We need to find the speed at which Adele should run to catch up to Michelle at the bus station.

Calculating Michelle's Distance

First, let's calculate the distance Michelle covers in 3 minutes. We know that Michelle walks at a speed of 5 km/hr, which is equivalent to 0.0833 km/min (since there are 60 minutes in an hour). In 3 minutes, Michelle will cover a distance of:

0.0833 km/min x 3 min = 0.25 km

This means that when Adele starts running, Michelle will be 0.25 km away from the starting point.

Calculating the Time to Catch Up

Now, let's calculate the time it takes for Adele to catch up to Michelle. We know that Michelle is 0.25 km away from the starting point, and Adele needs to cover this distance to catch up. Since Adele is running at a speed of x km/hr, the time it takes for her to cover 0.25 km is:

Time = Distance / Speed = 0.25 km / x km/hr

We also know that Michelle is walking at a speed of 5 km/hr, and she will cover a distance of 1 km in:

Time = Distance / Speed = 1 km / 5 km/hr = 0.2 hours = 12 minutes

Since Michelle will arrive at the bus station in 12 minutes, Adele needs to catch up to her in the same amount of time. Therefore, the time it takes for Adele to catch up to Michelle is also 12 minutes.

Calculating Adele's Speed

Now, let's calculate the speed at which Adele should run to catch up to Michelle in 12 minutes. We know that Adele needs to cover a distance of 0.25 km in 12 minutes, and the time it takes for her to cover this distance is:

Time = Distance / Speed = 0.25 km / x km/hr

We also know that the time it takes for Adele to catch up to Michelle is 12 minutes, and the distance she needs to cover is 0.25 km. Therefore, the speed at which Adele should run is:

Speed = Distance / Time = 0.25 km / 0.2 hours = 1.25 km/hr

However, this is not the correct answer. We need to take into account the fact that Michelle is walking at a speed of 5 km/hr, and Adele needs to catch up to her in 12 minutes. To do this, we can use the concept of relative speed.

Calculating the Relative Speed

The relative speed between Adele and Michelle is the difference between their speeds. Since Michelle is walking at a speed of 5 km/hr, and Adele needs to catch up to her, the relative speed is:

Relative Speed = Adele's Speed - Michelle's Speed = x km/hr - 5 km/hr

We know that the time it takes for Adele to catch up to Michelle is 12 minutes, and the distance she needs to cover is 0.25 km. Therefore, the relative speed is:

Relative Speed = Distance / Time = 0.25 km / 0.2 hours = 1.25 km/hr

However, this is not the correct answer. We need to take into account the fact that the relative speed is the difference between Adele's speed and Michelle's speed. Therefore, the correct relative speed is:

Relative Speed = x km/hr - 5 km/hr = 1.25 km/hr

Solving for x, we get:

x km/hr = 1.25 km/hr + 5 km/hr = 6.25 km/hr

Therefore, Adele should run at a speed of 6.25 km/hr to catch up to Michelle the moment she arrives at the bus station.

Conclusion

Q&A: Catching Up to Michelle

In the previous article, we solved the problem of how fast Adele should run to catch up to Michelle the moment she arrives at the bus station. However, we received many questions from readers who wanted to know more about the problem. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about catching up to Michelle.

Q: What if Michelle walks at a different speed?

A: If Michelle walks at a different speed, the problem becomes more complex. However, the basic principle remains the same. We need to calculate the relative speed between Adele and Michelle, and then use it to determine how fast Adele should run to catch up to Michelle.

Q: What if the bus station is farther away?

A: If the bus station is farther away, Michelle will take longer to arrive, and Adele will need to run faster to catch up to her. We can use the same formula to calculate the relative speed and determine how fast Adele should run.

Q: Can we use a different unit of measurement?

A: Yes, we can use a different unit of measurement, such as meters or miles, to solve the problem. However, we need to make sure that we are using the same unit of measurement for both Michelle's speed and the distance to the bus station.

Q: What if Adele starts running at a different time?

A: If Adele starts running at a different time, the problem becomes more complex. However, we can use the same formula to calculate the relative speed and determine how fast Adele should run to catch up to Michelle.

Q: Can we use a graph to visualize the problem?

A: Yes, we can use a graph to visualize the problem. By plotting the distance between Adele and Michelle over time, we can see how their speeds affect the distance between them.

Q: What is the significance of the relative speed?

A: The relative speed is the key to solving the problem. It represents the difference between Adele's speed and Michelle's speed, and it determines how fast Adele should run to catch up to Michelle.

Q: Can we apply this concept to real-life situations?

A: Yes, we can apply this concept to real-life situations. For example, if you are trying to catch up to a friend who is walking ahead of you, you can use the concept of relative speed to determine how fast you need to run to catch up to them.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered some of the most frequently asked questions about catching up to Michelle. We discussed how to handle different scenarios, such as Michelle walking at a different speed or the bus station being farther away. We also explored the significance of the relative speed and how it can be applied to real-life situations.

Additional Resources

If you want to learn more about catching up to Michelle, we recommend checking out the following resources:

Adele's Dilemma: Catching Up to Michelle at the Bus Station
Q&A: Catching Up to Michelle
Relative Speed: A Key Concept in Catching Up to Michelle

Final Thoughts

Catching up to Michelle is a classic problem that requires a deep understanding of relative speed and distance. By applying the concepts we discussed in this article, you can solve this problem and many others like it. Remember to always think critically and use the right tools to solve problems. With practice and patience, you will become a master problem-solver!