SOLUTION: I'm very confused on how to work this D=RT problem. The problem is as follows "A bus leaves Miami for San Francisco traveling at a rate of 40 mph. Three hours later a car leaves Mi

Question 125952: I'm very confused on how to work this D=RT problem. The problem is as follows "A bus leaves Miami for San Francisco traveling at a rate of 40 mph. Three hours later a car leaves Miami for San Francisco traveling at 55 mph. How far from Miama does the car overtake the bus?
My formula: 40x+55(x-3)=x
40x+55x-165=x
95x-165=x
I know this cannot be right, please help..
Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
This type of problem is not easy. I've struggled with some.
My approach is to divide the distances that the 40 mi/hr bus
covers into 2 parts. First, how far does that bus go in 3 hrs?
I call where it is after 3 hrs the starting point. Now
the 55 mi/hr car starts and I put a stopwatch on them both
= distance 55 mi/hr car covers from start to the meeting point
= time for the 55 mi/hr car to cover the distance
In 3 hrs the 40 mi/hr bus covers

mi
here are the equations

----------------------

Set in the 1st equation = in the 2nd equation

hrs
So, the 55 mi/hr car has travelled for 8 hrs when they meet

mi answer
I hope you can follow it and I didn't get my logic twisted
somewhere
RELATED QUESTIONS
The Supercruiser leaves Miami for San Francisco 3240 miles away, travelling at an average (answered by lwsshak3)

This problem is in a polynomial related math packet so I assume that this would be the... (answered by scott8148)

A super cruiser bus leaves miami travelling at an average rate of 40 miles per hour.3... (answered by stanbon)

How many times more powerful was the earthquake in Alaska than the San Francisco... (answered by josgarithmetic,ikleyn)

2) In most businesses, increasing prices of products can negatively impact the number... (answered by Hook)

I want to thank you for any help you may provide I am having a hard time figuring this... (answered by stanbon)

IT is approximately 480 miles from Los Angeles, California to San Francisco, Californis.... (answered by cowess)

Can someone help me on this problem? Ching leaves San Francisco and travels toward... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)

3) It is approximately 480 miles from Los Angeles, California, to San Francisco,... (answered by Nate)