At 10 a.m., Marion and Jean raced off together from the starting point of a route. Marion ran at an average speed of 2 m/s. Jean ran at an average speed of 3 m/s. Upon reaching the end of the route, Jean rested for 4 minutes. She then immediately ran back along the same route at 3 m/s. At 10.30 a.m., Marion met Jean.

1. Find the total distance covered by the two runners when they met each other. Express your answer in km.
2. Find the length of the trail in km.

(a)
From 10 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. = 30 min

Duration that Marion ran = 30 min
Duration that Jean ran = 30 -  4 = 26 min

1 min = 60 s

26 min = 26 x 60 = 1560 s
30 min = 30 x 60 = 1800 s

Distance that Marion ran
= 2 x 1800
= 3600 m

Distance that Jean ran
= 3 x 1560
= 4680 m

Distance that Marion and Jean ran
= 3600 + 4680
= 8280 m

1000 m = 1 km

8280 m = 8280 ÷ 1000 = 8.28 km

(b)
Length of the trail
= 8.28 ÷ 2
= 4.14 km

Answer(s): (a) 8.28 km; (b) 4.14 km