At 10 a.m., Nicole and Lucy raced off together from the starting point of a route. Nicole ran at an average speed of 2 m/s. Lucy ran at an average speed of 3 m/s. Upon reaching the end of the route, Lucy rested for 3 minutes. She then immediately ran back along the same route at 3 m/s. At 10.25 a.m., Nicole met Lucy.

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 10.25 a.m. = 25 min

Duration that Nicole ran = 25 min
Duration that Lucy ran = 25 -  3 = 22 min

1 min = 60 s

22 min = 22 x 60 = 1320 s
25 min = 25 x 60 = 1500 s

Distance that Nicole ran
= 2 x 1500
= 3000 m

Distance that Lucy ran
= 3 x 1320
= 3960 m

Distance that Nicole and Lucy ran
= 3000 + 3960
= 6960 m

1000 m = 1 km

6960 m = 6960 ÷ 1000 = 6.96 km

(b)
Length of the trail
= 6.96 ÷ 2
= 3.48 km

Answer(s): (a) 6.96 km; (b) 3.48 km