Solution:
The hare and the tortoise are together covering the distance at 9 miles per hour (i.e., on adding their speeds).
So, they will cover the distance of 81 miles in 9 hours.
Thus, in 9 hours, they will meet and the hare will have traveled 63 miles.
Alternative Solution through Equations:
Note that : Distance = Speed × Time
Let
t be the time before the hare and the tortoise meet.
In
t hours, the hare will travel 7
t miles.
In
t hours, the tortoise will travel 2
t miles.
Now,
7
t + 2
t = 81
So,
t = 81 ⁄ 9 = 9 hours.
Thus, distance traveled by hare before meeting = 7 × 9 = 63 miles.
Food for thought:
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