At 8 a.m., Victoria and Pamela raced off together from the starting point of a route. Victoria ran at an average speed of 1 m/s. Pamela ran at an average speed of 4 m/s. Upon reaching the end of the route, Pamela rested for 5 minutes. She then immediately ran back along the same route at 4 m/s. At 8.50 a.m., Victoria met Pamela.

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 8 a.m. to 8.50 a.m. = 50 min

Duration that Victoria ran = 50 min
Duration that Pamela ran = 50 -  5 = 45 min

1 min = 60 s

45 min = 45 x 60 = 2700 s
50 min = 50 x 60 = 3000 s

Distance that Victoria ran
= 1 x 3000
= 3000 m

Distance that Pamela ran
= 4 x 2700
= 10800 m

Distance that Victoria and Pamela ran
= 3000 + 10800
= 13800 m

1000 m = 1 km

13800 m = 13800 ÷ 1000 = 13.8 km

(b)
Length of the trail
= 13.8 ÷ 2
= 6.9 km

Answer(s): (a) 13.8 km; (b) 6.9 km