SOLUTION: An express and local train leave GraysLake at 3 P.M. and head for Chicago 55 miles away. The express travels twice as fast as the local and arrives 1 hour ahead of the local. Find

Question 519146: An express and local train leave GraysLake at 3 P.M. and head for Chicago 55 miles away. The express travels twice as fast as the local and arrives 1 hour ahead of the local. Find the speed of each train.
Answer by nerdybill(7384) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
An express and local train leave GraysLake at 3 P.M. and head for Chicago 55 miles away. The express travels twice as fast as the local and arrives 1 hour ahead of the local. Find the speed of each train.
.
Let x = speed of local
then
2x = speed of express
.
Let t = time traveled by local
then
t-1 = time traveled by express
.
Applying distance formula:
since the distance traveled is the same:
xt = 2x(t-1)
dividing both sides by x:
t = 2(t-1)
t = 2t-2
2 hours = t (time traveled by local)
speed of local:
55/2 = 27.5 mph
.
time traveled by express:
t-1 = 2-1 = 1 hour
speed of express:
55/1 = 55 mph

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