"A bus begins to move with an acceleration of 1" m/s"^21 m/s2" gives the following equation:
x_"bus"(t) = 1/2(1" m/s"^2)t^2" [1]"xbus(t)=12(1 m/s2)t2 [1]
"A boy 48" m"48 m behind the bus starts running at 10" m/s"10 m/s" gives us the following equation:
x_"boy"(t) = (10" m/s")t-48" m [2]"xboy(t)=(10 m/s)t−48 m [2]
We want the time, t, when x_"bus"(t) = x_"boy"(t)xbus(t)=xboy(t), therefore, we set the right of equation [1] equal to the right side of equation [2]:
1/2(1" m/s"^2)t^2 = (10" m/s")t-48" m"12(1 m/s2)t2=(10 m/s)t−48 m
Divide both sides by 1/2(1" m/s"^2)12(1 m/s2)
t^2 = (20" s")t-96" s"^2t2=(20 s)t−96 s2
Rewrite so that the equation is 0:
t^2 - (20" s")t+96" s"^2=0t2−(20 s)t+96 s2=0
Factor:
(t -8" s")(t-12" s")(t−8 s)(t−12 s)
t = 8" s" and t = " 12" s"t=8 sandt= 12s