Ricardo and john start swimming from the same location. ricardo starts 15 seconds before john and swims at a rate of 3 feet per second. john swims at a rate of 4 feet per second in the same direction as ricardo. which equation could you solve to find how long it will take john to catch up with ricardo?

t = (t₁ · vr)/ (vj - vr) = 45 seconds

Step-by-step explanation:

Given:

Initial time from Ricardo  t₁ = 15 seconds, Ricardo's velocity (speed) vr = 3 ft/s,

John's velocity (speed) vj = 4 ft/s

Requested time when John catch Ricardo t = ?

During 15 seconds, Ricardo moved away

S = vr · t₁ = 3 ft/s · 15 s = 45 feet.

From that moment, the same time runs for both of them

Ricardo's path is S₁ = vr · t  and John's path is S₂ = vj · t

S + S₁ = S₂ =>  S = S₂ - S₁  => 45 = vj · t - vr · t  

When we draw t we get:

t ( vj - vr) = 45   t = 45 / (vj - vr) = 45 / (4 - 3) = 45 / 1 = 45 seconds

t = 45 seconds

S₁ = vr · t = 3 · 45 = 135 ft

S₂ = vj · t = 4 · 45 = 180 ft

God with you!!!