document.write( "Question 178582: 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? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #133548 by Fombitz(32388) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Distance equals rate (speed) multiplied by time.
\n" ); document.write( "The distance that the bus covers is the bus' rate multiplied by time.
\n" ); document.write( "1. $\"D%5Bb%5D=R%5Bb%5D%2At=31%2At\"$
\n" ); document.write( "The distance that the train covers is the train's rate multiplied by time.
\n" ); document.write( "2. $\"D%5Bt%5D=R%5Bt%5D%2At=39%2At\"$
\n" ); document.write( "The difference in distance, between the train and the bus, that you're looking for is 24 miles.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"D%5Bt%5D-D%5Bb%5D=24\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Substitute using eq. 1 and eq. 2 from above and solve for t,
\n" ); document.write( " $\"D%5Bt%5D-D%5Bb%5D=24\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"39%2At-31%2At=24\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"8%2At=24\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"t=24%2F8=3\"$
\n" ); document.write( "In 3 hours, they will be 24 miles apart. \n" ); document.write( "

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