SOLUTION: Two crews working toward each other are 18 miles apart. They meet after 3 hours. one of them works at a rate of 2 miles per hour faster than the other. find the two rates. I kno

Question 728536: Two crews working toward each other are 18 miles apart. They meet after 3 hours. one of them works at a rate of 2 miles per hour faster than the other. find the two rates.
I know that RxT=D. So I set up a box with = being 18. I know that they meet after 3 hours, so my total was 3. I also know that one worker (x) is working 2 miles faster than the other, so x+2=18...I think, but I'm not sure I'm on the right track.
Answer by josgarithmetic(39799) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You could make a data table this way:
Let r = the rate of the slower team (arbitrary if you make r for slower team or faster team);

Team____________rate____________time______________distance worked
Slow____________r_______________3_________________r*3
Fast____________r+2_____________3_________________(r+2)*3
Total__________________________ __________________18

You might be able to think of their rates as additive, even without making a table like shown above. The sum of their distances worked in the three hour time period is the original gap between them of 18 miles. . Solve for r and then compute .
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