SOLUTION: Two trains are 500 miles apart when they first start moving towards each other. If in two hours the distance between them is 300 miles, and one train goes 20 miles faster than the

Question 980719: Two trains are 500 miles apart when they first start moving towards each other. If in two hours the distance between them is 300 miles, and one train goes 20 miles faster than the other, find the speed of the faster train. There are more 2 solutions
Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let = the speed of the slower train
= the speed of the faster train
--------------------------------------
If the trains started out being 500 mi apart,
and ended up 300 mi apart, then the sum of the
distances they traveled must be 200 mi
------------------------------------
let = the distance in miles the
slower train has traveled until they are 300 mi apart
= the distance in miles the slower train
has traveled until they are 300 mi apart
------------------------------------
Equation for slower train:
(1)
Equation for faster train:
(2)
--------------------------
Substitute (1) into (2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
and

The faster train's speed is 60 mi/hr
------------
check:
(1)
(1)
(1)
and
(2)
(2)
(2)
Note that which is the sum
of the distances they traveled
OK

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