I have a problem for you guys: Two cars, both at constant velocities, approach each other from opposite sides of a tarmac. When they pass, they are 800m from the north side of the tarmac. They reach their respective opposite sides, instantly reverse direction, and pass each other again, this time 300m from the south side of the tarmac.
How long is the north-south length of the tarmac?
I tried my hand at this, may be wrong because I'm pretty tired. Also I was sloppy as forget when I was writing it out so I'll explain textually
Basically, because the cars are at constant velocities, they'll have to be the same distance from the first intersection (800m) in order to intersect there.
1>_______O________<2
800m 800m
So, after a while, 2 and 1 would switch positions, with 1 continuing south and 2 reaching its opposite side and turning south.
2>_______O________1>
800m 800m
After that, 1 reaches its side, which would probably be 300m from the other (can't really concretely explain this yet imo)
2>____O______<1
300m 300m
Then they would most likely have to be 300m from each other. So this is what it looks like (obvs not to scale):
N_____A___O______O'___S
NO = 800m, O'S = 300m, and AO' = 800-300 = 500.
so the north-south length should be 800+300+500, or 1600.
if it turns out that I had to do something handicapped like get the average distances instead of doing all that then i'd be mildly disappointed
