SOLUTION: A train leaves New York for Boston, 200 miles away, at 3pm and averages 75 mph. Another train leaves Boston for New York on an adjacent set of tracks at 5pm and averages 45 mph. At

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Question 1074156: A train leaves New York for Boston, 200 miles away, at 3pm and averages 75 mph. Another train leaves Boston for New York on an adjacent set of tracks at 5pm and averages 45 mph. At what time will the trains meet?
D=RT rule is confused here.
Can someone help me? Thanks.
Found 2 solutions by jorel1380, ikleyn:
Answer by jorel1380(3719)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The train leaving New York has a two-hour headstart (3pm versus 5pm), so will have
traveled 150 miles in that time. So:
50/75+45=t
t=.416667 hours=5/12 hours=25 minutes after 5 pm is when they will meet. ☺☺☺☺
Answer by ikleyn(52897)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
A train leaves New York for Boston, 200 miles away, at 3pm and averages 75 mph. Another train leaves Boston for New York
on an adjacent set of tracks at 5pm and averages 45 mph. At what time will the trains meet?
D=RT rule is confused here.
Can someone help me? Thanks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Your equation is

75*(t+2) + 45*t = 200,    (the "distance" equation)

where t is the time counting from 5 pm, when the second train started. 

The equation says that the total distance covered by the two trains is 200 miles, the full distance.

Simplify and solve to get the answer t =  =  =  of an hour = 25 minutes.

The trains will meet at 5:25 pm.

See the lessons
- Travel and Distance problems
- Travel and Distance problems for two bodies moving in opposite directions
- Travel and Distance problems for two bodies moving in the same direction (catching up)
in this site.


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