A place for everything about math

10 readers

1 users here now

founded 5 years ago

MODERATORS

antimatroid@lemmy.ml

Need help with simple math problem. (lemmy.ml)

submitted 4 months ago by Donatello@lemmy.ml to c/math@lemmy.ml

2 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Hi,

I found online a nice (and seemed easy) math problem.

Rocket A travel from Mars to Earth in 200 days
Rocket B travel from Earth to Mars in 150 days, but take off 30 days later

When they cross each other, which one is the closet to the earth ?

So they give a "flat" answer, without giving any explanation on how they reach this conclusion.

What would be your simplest Mathematical solution for this ?

Thanks.

top 2 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] Didros 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Normally, we consider speed as distance divided by time, but the distance is assumed to be the same here. So consider this in the form of Y=mX+b where m is tge scale of distance traveled/time and b is used for start day.
A = X/200
B = -x/150 - 30
So you just need to solve for X here:
X/200 = -X/150-30

Math is a language, and you need to translate it in your head to English like any other.

[–] DerisionConsulting@lemmy.ca 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

(Edit: late at night, math brain no work)