The cunninghams are moving across the country. mr. cunningham leaves 3 hours before mrs. cunningham. if he averages 40mph and she averages 80mph, how long will it take mrs. cunningham to overtake mr. cunningham?

Recall your d = rt, distance = rate * time

now, if say, by the time they meet, Mr Cunningham has travelled "d" miles, that means Mrs Cunningham must also had travelled "d" miles as well.

However, he left 3 hours earlier, so by the time he travelled "d" miles, and took say "t" hours, for her it took 3 hour less, because she started driving 3 hours later, so, she's been on the road 3 hours less than Mr Cunningham, so by the time they meet, Mrs Cunningham has travelled then "t - 3" hours.