How to solve a math problem where people travel at different speeds?

Two cyclists start biking from a trail’s start 3 hours apart. The second cyclist travels at 10 miles per hour and starts 3 hours after the first cyclist who is traveling at 6 miles per hour. How much time will pass before the second cyclist catches up with the first from the time the second cyclist started biking?

How would you solve a problem like that?

Best Answer

if the first cyclist traveling at 6 miles an hour has a 3 hour head start, he has an 18 mile head start
the second cyclist is traveling 10 miles an hour, which is 4 miles an hour faster than the first cyclist

it will take 4.5 hours for the second cyclist to catch up