Cole and Harry took part in a 16 km marathon. Cole ran half the distance at a speed of 12 km/h and ran slower for the rest of the way at a speed of 8 km/h. Harry ran half his total time at 10 km/h and ran slower for the rest of the time at 5 km/h. If they started the marathon at 5.30 a.m., at what time would each of them finish?

1. Cole
2. Harry

(a)
Half of the 16 km marathon = 16 ÷ 2 = 8 km

Time taken by Cole for the first half of the marathon
= 8 ÷ 12
= ²₃ h

Time taken by Cole for the last half of the marathon
= 8 ÷ 8
= 1 h

Total time taken by Cole
= ²₃ + 1
= 1²₃ h

1 h = 60 min
²₃ h = ²₃ x 60 = 40 min
1²₃ h = 1 h 40 min

1 h 40 min after 5.30 a.m. = 7.10 a.m.
Time that Cole would finish the marathon = 7.10 a.m.

(b)
Time taken by Harry for the first half of the marathon
= 8 ÷ 10
= ⁴₅ h

Time taken by Harry for the last half of the marathon
= 8 ÷ 5
= 1³₅ h

Total time taken by Harry
= ⁴₅ + 1³₅
= 2²₅ h

1 h = 60 min
²₅ h = ²₅ x 60 = 24 min
2²₅ h = 2 h 24 min
2 h 24 min after 5.30 a.m. = 7.54 a.m.
Time that Harry would finish the marathon = 7.54 a.m.

Answer(s): (a) 7.10 a.m.; (b) 7.54 a.m.