A moving van leaves a house at noon travelling at a rate of 55mph The family leaves in their car an hour later travelling at 60mph After how much time does the family catch up to the moving van?

Answer 1

At any given time in hours after the family departs, the distance they have travelled will be 60t, while at the same time, the moving van will have covered a distance of 55(t + 1). The family will catch up when these two times are equal, or when 60t = 55(t + 1), or 60t - 55t = 55, or 5t = 55, or t = 55/5 hours = 11 hours.