A church and a flower shop, 3500 m apart, are situated between Linda's house and Opal's house. The flower shop is halfway between the two houses and the church is closer to Opal's house. Linda and Opal left their homes at the same time and arrived at the church at the same time. Linda drove at a speed of 60 km/h while Opal drove at a speed 20 km/h slower than Linda. Leaving your answer in kilometres,

1. how much farther did Linda travel than Opal?
2. how far is Opal's house from the flower shop?

(a)
Let the distance between Linda's house and Opal's house be 1 d.
Opal travelled = ¹₂ d - 3500 m
Linda travelled = ¹₂ d + 3500 m

Distance that Linda travelled more than Opal
= ¹₂ d + 3500 - (¹₂ d - 3500)
= ¹₂ d + 3500 - ¹₂ d + 3500
= 7000 m
= 7 km

(b)
Time that Linda took to travel to the church
= 7 ÷ 20
= ⁷₂₀ h

Distance that Linda travelled
= ⁷₂₀ x 60
= 21 km

1000 m = 1 km
3500 m = 3.5 km

Distance between Opal's house and the flower shop
= 21 - 3.5
= 17.5 km

Answer(s): (a) 7 km; (b) 17.5 km