At 11 a.m., Xylia and Nicole raced off together from the starting point of a pathway. Xylia ran at an average speed of 1 m/s. Nicole ran at an average speed of 2 m/s. Upon reaching the end of the pathway, Nicole rested for 4 minutes. She then immediately ran back along the same route at 2 m/s. At 11.30 a.m., Xylia met Nicole.

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 11 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. = 30 min

Duration that Xylia ran = 30 min
Duration that Nicole 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 Xylia ran
= 1 x 1800
= 1800 m

Distance that Nicole ran
= 2 x 1560
= 3120 m

Distance that Xylia and Nicole ran
= 1800 + 3120
= 4920 m

1000 m = 1 km

4920 m = 4920 ÷ 1000 = 4.92 km

(b)
Length of the trail
= 4.92 ÷ 2
= 2.46 km

Answer(s): (a) 4.92 km; (b) 2.46 km