Can you answer this math problem?

[Anonymous]

In a 21 dash meter race between a tortoise and a hare, the tortoise leaves 10 minutes before the hare. The hare, by running at an average speed of 0.5 meter per hour faster than the tortoise, crosses the finish line 2 minutes before the tortoise. What are the average speeds of the tortoise and the hare?

[ChromAzonyx108]

Tricky as there are different units but I'll give it a shot.

1.) V (hare)= 21m//T (hare)
2.) V (tortoise)=21m//T (tortoise)
3.) V (h)=V (t)+0.5m/h=V (t)+1.39x10^-4m/s
4.) T (h)=T (t)-2min=T (t)-120s

Sub equation 3 into equation 1. Also sub equation 4 into equation 1. Rearrange for T (t) to get a quadratic equation which gives an answer of 4318s

T (h)=4318-120=4198s
V (h)=21m//4198s=0.005002m. s=18.01m/h

T (t)=4318s+10min=4918s
V (t)=21m//4918s=0.004270m/s=15.37m/h

Check the total times by the equation T=d/V which gives approximately 70min for the hare and 82min for the tortoise, a time difference of 12min as indicated in the question.

[Anonymous]

Yes, this solution is solvable in the set of real numbers, using a family of equations.

See, I can still do theoretical math.

[takumii]

I would had helped only if you weren't anon :P

[I_am_repulsive]

Have you tried chegg?