I think what I have the most problems w/ is understanding how to relate the 2 object's movements to each other. I prob need to conceptualize each slope as an individual question and then use some process to use both derivatives to find the derivative(?) of the distance between the points.

Like you need the derivative for each equation, then use that derivative to get the slope of the tangent line, then find some connection between the tangent line of the 2 different polynomial functions, and FINALLY get the change in distance between 2 moving objects at a specific point.