SOLUTION: An express train leaves New York at 3pm and reaches Boston at 6pm. A slow train leaves Boston at 1.30pm and arrives at New York at 6pm. If both trains travel at constant speeds, at

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Question 302031: An express train leaves New York at 3pm and reaches Boston at 6pm. A slow train leaves Boston at 1.30pm and arrives at New York at 6pm. If both trains travel at constant speeds, at what time do they meet?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
An express train leaves New York at 3pm and reaches Boston at 6pm.
A slow train leaves Boston at 1.30pm and arrives at New York at 6pm.
If both trains travel at constant speeds, at what time do they meet?
:
From the given information:
Express travel time = 3 hrs
Slow train travel time = 4.5 hrs
:
Let d = dist from N.Y. to Boston
:
= speed of express
= speed of the slow train
:
Let t = travel time of express when they meet
then
(t+1.5) = travel time of the slow train when they meet
:
Write a distance equation; dist = speed * time
:
Dist of each train = the total dist
t + (t+1.5) = d
multiply thru by 9 to get rid of the denominators, results:
3dt + 2d(t+1.5) = 9d
3dt + 2dt + 3d = 9d
5dt + 3d = 9d
divide thru by d
5t + 3 = 9
5t = 9 - 3
5t = 6
t =
t = 1.2 hrs, which is 1 hr 12 min
:
3:00 + 1:12 = 4:12 pm the trains meet

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