To find the answer, we can first find the distance each of them have, then divide it by their speed to find the time needed.
Distance Steve need to travel: 300 feet
Distance Paula need to travel:
300+175(behind steve) = 475 feet
Time needed respectively:
Steve: 300 ÷ 9 = 33.33.. seconds
Paula: 475 ÷ 15 = 31.66... seconds
As we can see from the result, Paula would take less time to reach the goal (31.66<33.33),
therefore, Paula win the bike race by:
33.33-31.67
=1.66...
≈1.67 feet
Thus Paula won by 1.67 feet.
Hope it helps!