A ship enters the north end of Red Sea from the Suez Canal moving south at 17.4 mi/h. Two hours later a second ship enters the Red Sea at the southern end, moving north at 21.8 mi/hr. If the Red Sea is 1390 miles long, when will the ships pass?

The ships will pass after 34.57 hours

Step-by-step explanation:

Given,

Speed of ship A = 17.4 miles per hour

Distance covered by ship A in two hours = Speed * Time = 17.4 * 2 = 34.8 miles

Let,

t be the time.

Distance traveled by ship A = 17.4t + 34.8

Speed of ship B = 21.8 miles per hour

Distance covered by ship B = 34.8t

Distance of Red Sea = 1390 miles

Now;

Distance of ship A + Distance of ship B = 1390

Dividing both sides by 39.2

The ships will pass after 34.57 hours