Hector is competing in a 42 mile bicycle race. he has already completed 18 miles of the race and is traveling at a constant speed of 12 miles per hour when wanda starts the race. wanda is traveling at a constant speed of 16 miles per hour. write and solve an equation to find when wanda will catch up to hector

Let x = the hours needed for Wanda to catch up to Hector.

Hector has already completed 18 miles. Hector travels at 12 miles per hour.
After x more hours, Hector will travel
18 + 12x miles

Wanda travels at 16 miles per hour. In x hours, she travels
16x miles

If Wanda catches up to Hector, then
16x = 18 + 12x
4x = 18
x = 4.5 hours

  4 hours, 30 minutes (or 4.5 hours)