SOLUTION: I have a word problem that says one person leaves at 2pm and is traveling 45 mph from point a to point b and the other person leaves at 2:15pm and is traveling 40 mph from point b

Question 402938: I have a word problem that says one person leaves at 2pm and is traveling 45 mph from point a to point b and the other person leaves at 2:15pm and is traveling 40 mph from point b to point a. The distance is 160 miles. The question is At what time do they pass each other on the road? I need help setting up a formula for this. I thought it might be 160=45x+40x but the answer to that didn't seem right. I know the formula d=rt, but I don't know exactly how to apply that to this problem.
Answer by scott8148(6628) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
your equation is very close
the sum of the rates times the times is 160 ; but the times are not the same
the 45 mph person has a 15 min (.25 hr) head start

160 = 45(x + .25) + 40(x)

x is the travel time for the 40 mph person
from that you can find the time (of day) that they pass each other
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