SOLUTION: A train traveling at 50 miles per hour leaves for a certain town. Two hours later, a bus (starting at the same point as the train) traveling at 60 miles per hour leaves for the

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Travel -> SOLUTION: A train traveling at 50 miles per hour leaves for a certain town. Two hours later, a bus (starting at the same point as the train) traveling at 60 miles per hour leaves for the       Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 266754: A train traveling at 50 miles per hour leaves for a certain town. Two hours
later, a bus (starting at the same point as the train) traveling at 60 miles
per hour leaves for the same town and arrives at the same time as the train.
If both the train and the bus traveled in a straight line, how far is the town
from where they started?
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20086) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A train traveling at 50 miles per hour leaves for a certain town. Two hours
later, a bus (starting at the same point as the train) traveling at 60 miles
per hour leaves for the same town and arrives at the same time as the train.
If both the train and the bus traveled in a straight line, how far is the town
from where they started?

Make this chart

           DISTANCE      RATE      TIME
TRAIN        
BUS           

Let x be the required distance from where they started
to the town.  They both traveled the same distance,
so put x for both distances


           DISTANCE      RATE      TIME
TRAIN         x         
BUS           x        

Put in their rates which are given:


           DISTANCE      RATE      TIME
TRAIN         x           50       
BUS           x           60         


Now fill in the TIMES by using TIME=%28DISTANCE%29%2F%28RATE%29


           DISTANCE      RATE      TIME
TRAIN         x           50       x/50
BUS           x           60       x/60

The train's time was two hours more than the bus's time,
so 

   TRAIN'S TIME = BUS'S TIME + 2 HOURS

           x/50 =    x/60    +   2

x%2F50=x%2F60%2B2

Multiply through by 300

6x+=+5x%2B600

x=600

So the town is 600 miles from where they started.

Edwin