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Two trains 100 meters and 120 meters long are running in the same directions with speed of 72 km/hr and 54 km./hr.
In how much time will the first train cross the second?
Answer. = = 44 seconds.
Solution
What is 20 in the denominator in the Answer? It is 20 meters per second,
which is the speed of the first train, 72 kilometers per hour, converted to meters per second.
What is 15 in the denominator in the Answer? It is 15 meters per second,
which is the speed of the second train, 54 kilometers per hour, converted to meters per second.
What is the difference (20-15) in the denominator? It is the relative speed of the faster train to slower train
moving on parallel tracks in the same direction.
What is the sum (100+120) in the numerator? It is the sum of the lengths of the two trains.
Why we divide (100+120) by (20-15)? It is the time required for the faster train to pass completely the slower train.
See the lesson A train passing another train in this site.