A medium question on meeting for P4–P5, with a step-by-step solution, diagrams and the answer. The basis of journey problems: meeting and catching up appear in the Hua Xia Cup's P4 to P6 qualifying rounds and finals.
The question
Ming's home and his school are on the same straight road, 460 m apart.
When school ends, Ming walks home; at the same moment his mother leaves home along the same road to meet him.
Ming walks 55 m a minute and his mother 60 m a minute.
When they meet, how far has his mother walked?
Show the hints (2)
💡Hint 1: To know how far his mother walked, first find for how many minutes she walked.
💡Hint 2: How much closer do they get each minute?
Worked solution
Have a go first, then read the solution step by step.
1.Each minute his mother walks 60 m and Ming 55 m: together they close 60 + 55 = 115 m.
2.The 460 m gap shrinks by 115 m a minute: 460 ÷ 115 = 4, so they meet after 4 minutes.
3.His mother walked for 4 minutes: 60 × 4 = 240 m.
⚠️Common mistake: assuming they meet halfway. Their speeds differ, so the faster walker covers more.
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