document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=179888>Question 179888</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I am really stuck on this problem and could use some help.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "At noon a train leaves Los Angeles, headed for Las Vegas, a distance of 260 miles. The train travels at a speed of 60 mph. At 1p.m. a second train leaves Las Vegas headed for Los Angeles, traveling at 40 mph. How long after the train leaves Las Vegas will the two trains pass each other?\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "This is how I attempted to work it out:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "1st train    distance= 60(x+1), rate= 60mph, time= x+1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2nd train    distance= 40x, rate=40mph, time=x\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "60(x+1)=40x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "60x +60=40x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "60     =-20x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-3     =x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The trains could not pass at -3 hours. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong! Please help. :-) </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #134793 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Mathtut><B>Mathtut(3670)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Mathtut><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=134793\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> well one easy way to do this problem based on them traveling at 100mph together<BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "so if total distance is 260 miles. after 1 hour the trains are only 200 miles apart when train #2 starts moving<BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "if they are traveling 100mph together then they will cover that 200 miles in 2hours. <BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "so the answer is 2 hours<BR>\n" );
document.write( ":\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "lets use your figures:<BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1st train distance= 60(x+1), rate= 60mph, time= x+1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2nd train distance= 40x, rate=40mph, time=x <BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "distances will not be equal.  distance for train 2 lets call d and for train 1 lets call distance 260-d<BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "260-d=60(x+1).....eq 1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "d=40x.............eq 2<BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "plug d's value from eq 2 into eq 1<BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "260-40x=60x+60<BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "200=100x<BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=2<BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "so really the only mistake you made was to set the distances equal to each other...good job <BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );