The price of Stock A at 9 a. m. was $15.75. Since then, the price has been increasing at the rate of $0.05 per hour. At noon, the price of Stock B was $16.53. It begins to decrease at the rate of $0.13 per hour. If the stocks continue to increase and decrease at the same rates, in how many hours will the prices of the stocks be the same?

In approximately 3 hours time stock A will be the same price with Stock B

Step-by-step explanation:

Stock A increases at $ 0.05 per hour

stock A at 9 a. m = $ 15.75

stock A at 12 noon = $ 15.75 + $ 0.05 * 3

= $ 15.75 + $ 0.15 = $ 15.90

stock A in the next three hours again will be = $ 15.90 + $ 0.05 * 3

= $15.90 + $ 0.15 = $ 16.05

Stock B at 12 noon = $ 16.53

stock B decreases at $ 0.13 per hour so in the next three hours stock B will be

= $ 16.53 - $ 0.13 * 3

= $ 16.53 - $0.39 = $16.14

Answer: 3.5