At 10 a.m., Xylia and Kathy raced off together from the starting point of a path. Xylia ran at an average speed of 2 m/s. Kathy ran at an average speed of 3 m/s. Upon reaching the end of the path, Kathy rested for 4 minutes. She then immediately ran back along the same route at 3 m/s. At 10.45 a.m., Xylia met Kathy.

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 10.45 a.m. = 45 min

Duration that Xylia ran = 45 min
Duration that Kathy ran = 45 -  4 = 41 min

1 min = 60 s

41 min = 41 x 60 = 2460 s
45 min = 45 x 60 = 2700 s

Distance that Xylia ran
= 2 x 2700
= 5400 m

Distance that Kathy ran
= 3 x 2460
= 7380 m

Distance that Xylia and Kathy ran
= 5400 + 7380
= 12780 m

1000 m = 1 km

12780 m = 12780 ÷ 1000 = 12.78 km

(b)
Length of the trail
= 12.78 ÷ 2
= 6.39 km

Answer(s): (a) 12.78 km; (b) 6.39 km