How Do You Solve an Opposite-Direction Travel Problem?

How Do You Solve an Opposite-Direction Travel Problem?

Note:

Two people leave a location at different times and travel in opposite directions. What time will they be a certain distance apart? This tutorial takes you step-by-step through this classic word problem!

Keywords:

  • problem
  • word problem
  • word
  • translate
  • translate words to algebra
  • uniform motion
  • multiple step problem
  • two equations
  • distance
  • speed
  • time
  • constant speed
  • rate times time
  • 2 equations 2 unknowns
  • solve by substitution
  • two objects
  • objects moving apart
  • solve with two operations
  • distributive property

Background Tutorials

  • Introduction to Algebraic Expressions

      • What is a Variable?What is a Variable?

      What is a Variable?

      You can't do algebra without working with variables, but variables can be confusing. If you've ever wondered what variables are, then this tutorial is for you!

  • Simplifying Expressions

      • What are Like Terms?What are Like Terms?

      What are Like Terms?

      Combining like terms together is a key part of simplifying mathematical expressions, so check out this tutorial to see how you can easily pick out like terms from an expression

  • Solving One-Step Equations

  • Solving Two-Step Equations

  • Solving Multi-Step Equations

  • Working with Formulas

      • What's the Formula Connecting Distance, Speed, and Time?What's the Formula Connecting Distance, Speed, and Time?

      What's the Formula Connecting Distance, Speed, and Time?

      When you have constant speed, the same formula pops up over and over again, and that's the formula that connects distance, speed, and time. Make sure you know this formula, and if you want a refresher, check out the tutorial!

Further Exploration