At 9: 00 on saturday morning, two bicyclists heading in opposite directions pass each other on a bicycle path. the bicyclist heading north is riding 6 km/hour faster than the bicyclist heading south. at 10: 15, they are 42.5 km apart. find the two bicyclists’ rates.

Find the duration

Time : 9:00am to 10:15am 
Duration: 1hour 15 mins or 1.25hours


Find difference in distance travelled between the two cyclists.

Difference in speed = 6km/h
1 hour = 6 km
1.25 hours = 7.5km


Find the distance the cyclist traveled

42.5 - 7.5 = 35km
35km ÷ 2 = 17.5km

The slower cyclist traveled 17.5 km in the 1.25 hours

17.5 + 7.5 = 25 km

The faster cyclist traveled 25km in the 1.25 hours


Find the speed of the slower cyclist

1.25 hour = 17.5 km
1 hour = 17.25 ÷ 1.25
1 hour = 14km

The cyclist was traveling at 14km/h


Find the speed of the faster cyclist

1.25 hour = 25km
1 hour = 25 ÷ 1.25
1hour = 20 km

The cyclist was traveling at 20km/hour


The speed were 14km/h and 20 km/h