Math Problem of the Week - Algebra and Up - Sept. 5, 2021 to Sept. 11, 2021

Algebra and Up: 

Question: A swimmer is 20 meters from a boat. A crocodile is 30 meters behind the swimmer. If the crocodile swims 4 meters per second and the swimmer swims 2 meters per second, will the crocodile catch the swimmer before he reaches the boat? 

Answer: No

Solution: The crocodile swims 4 – 2 = 2 meters per second faster than the swimmer. So, the crocodile gets 2 meters closer to the swimmer each second. It takes the swimmer 20 meters ÷ 2 meters per second = 10 seconds to reach the boat. In that time, the crocodile gets 10 seconds × 2 meters per second = 20 meters closer to the swimmer. Since they were 30 meters apart to begin with, the crocodile does not catch the swimmer.