Captain Kirk’s starship leaves Earth for Planet X at the same time Marvin the Martian’s starship leaves Planet X for Earth. Each ship travels at a constant velocity, but one is faster than the other. After meeting and passing, Kirk requires 22.5 hours to reach Planet X, while Marvin requires only 10 hours to reach Earth. Exactly what total time did each starship require for its interplanetary journey? Assume stationary planets.

Credit for this problem goes to Cliff Pickover

(In reply to Solution by Penny)

Kirk took 38.5.

Exactly as Penny illustrated, but he got delayed by exactly one hour to foil a Romulan plot.

Marvin never reaches earth.

After 24.5 hours, Marvin runs into an Earthling with long floppy ears, who causes him lots of problems and ends up destroying Marvins spaceship.

Posted by Leming on 2005-05-05 11:41:44