document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=178582>Question 178582</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Can someone help me write the equation to solve this word problem?  A bus and a train start for the same destination at the same time.  The highway runs along the railroad track.  The bus averages 31mph, and the train averages 39mph.  In how many hours will they be 24 miles apart? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #133546 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josmiceli><B>josmiceli(19441)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josmiceli><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=josmiceli><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=133546\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> For the bus, I can write<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1) <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=d%5Bb%5D+=+r%5Bb%5D%2At%5Bb%5D ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"d%5Bb%5D+=+r%5Bb%5D%2At%5Bb%5D\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "For the train, I can write<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2) <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=d%5Bt%5D+=+r%5Bt%5D%2At%5Bt%5D ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"d%5Bt%5D+=+r%5Bt%5D%2At%5Bt%5D\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "They are starting at the same time. Suppose I have a stopwatch<BR>\n" );
document.write( "and I am high above them in a blimp or baloon.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "I start the stopwatch when they both start and I can actually<BR>\n" );
document.write( "measure when they are 24 mi apart, and I'll stop the watch then.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Then I will know that the elapsed time for each will be the same, or<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=t%5Bb%5D+=+t%5Bt%5D ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"t%5Bb%5D+=+t%5Bt%5D\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, so I'll just call them both <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=t ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"t\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "given:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=r%5Bb%5D+=+31 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"r%5Bb%5D+=+31\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > mi/hr<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=r%5Bt%5D+=+39 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"r%5Bt%5D+=+39\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > mi/hr<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So far, I have:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1) <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=d%5Bb%5D+=+31t ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"d%5Bb%5D+=+31t\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2) <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=d%5Bt%5D+=+39t ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"d%5Bt%5D+=+39t\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "I want the train to be <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=24 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"24\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > mi ahead of the bus when I stop<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the stopwatch, so I want<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=d%5Bt%5D+=+d%5Bb%5D+%2B+24 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"d%5Bt%5D+=+d%5Bb%5D+%2B+24\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now I can write<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1) <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=d%5Bb%5D+=+31t ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"d%5Bb%5D+=+31t\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2) <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=d%5Bb%5D+%2B+24+=+39t ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"d%5Bb%5D+%2B+24+=+39t\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Substitute <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=d%5Bb%5D ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"d%5Bb%5D\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > in (1) for <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=d%5Bb%5D ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"d%5Bb%5D\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > in (2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=31t+%2B+24+=+39t ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"31t+%2B+24+=+39t\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=8t+=+24 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"8t+=+24\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=t+=+3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"t+=+3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > hrs <BR>\n" );
document.write( "In 3 hours, they will be 24 miles apart<BR>\n" );
document.write( "check:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1) <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=d%5Bb%5D+=+31t ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"d%5Bb%5D+=+31t\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2) <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=d%5Bt%5D+=+39t ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"d%5Bt%5D+=+39t\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "-----------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=d%5Bb%5D+=+31%2A3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"d%5Bb%5D+=+31%2A3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=d%5Bb%5D+=+93 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"d%5Bb%5D+=+93\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "and<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=d%5Bt%5D+=+39%2A3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"d%5Bt%5D+=+39%2A3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=d%5Bt%5D+=+117 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"d%5Bt%5D+=+117\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=117+-+93+=+24 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"117+-+93+=+24\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "OK </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );