Answer:
[tex]\large \boxed{\text{24 min}}[/tex]
Step-by-step explanation:
Let d = distance from apartment
Then 6 - d = distance travelled by Alan
and 8 - d = distance travelled by Soren
They will each be on the road for the same time.
Distance = speed × time
[tex]\text{Time} = \dfrac{\text{distance}}{\text{speed}}[/tex]
[tex]\begin{array}{rcl}\dfrac{6 - d}{7} & = & \dfrac{8 - d}{12}\\72 - 12d & = & 56 - 7d\\16 & = & 5d\\d & = & \dfrac{16}{5}\\\\ & = & 3.2\\ \end{array}\\[/tex]
Calculate the travel times
Alan's distance = (6 - 3.2) mi = 2.8 mi
[tex]\text{Alan's time} = \dfrac{2.8}{7} = \text{0.4 h} = \textbf{24 min}[/tex]
Soren's distance = (8 - 3.2) mi = 4.8 mi
[tex]\text{Soren's time} = \dfrac{4.8}{12} = \text{0.4 h} = \textbf{24 min}\\\\\text{Alan and Soren must travel $\large \boxed{\textbf{24 min}}$ to be the same distance from their apartment.}[/tex]