document.write( "Question 504042: A train starts from Peoria at 2 p.m. and heads for Reedley, 750 miles away. At the same time, a train leaves Reedley and heads for Peoria at 85 miles per hr. If the trains meet at 5 p.m., what is the rate of the first train?
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Algebra.Com's Answer #339502 by Edwin McCravy(20081) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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A train starts from Peoria at 2 p.m. and heads for Reedley, 750 miles away. At the same time, a train leaves Reedley and heads for Peoria at 85 miles per hr. If the trains meet at 5 p.m., what is the rate of the first train?
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document.write( "Make this chart:\r\n" );
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document.write( "                 Distance      Rate      Time\r\n" );
document.write( "First train         \r\n" );
document.write( "Second train     \r\n" );
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document.write( "Let the answer be x, the rate of the first train,\r\n" );
document.write( "and fill in the rates of both trains\r\n" );
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document.write( "                 Distance      Rate      Time\r\n" );
document.write( "First train                      x        \r\n" );
document.write( "Second train                    85        \r\n" );
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document.write( "Both trains started at 2 p.m. and met at 5 p.m.,\r\n" );
document.write( "so both trains' times are 3 hours, so fill in 3\r\n" );
document.write( "for the times for both trains:\r\n" );
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document.write( "                 Distance      Rate      Time\r\n" );
document.write( "First train                      x        3\r\n" );
document.write( "Second train                    85        3\r\n" );
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document.write( "Now use the formula: distance = rate × time to\r\n" );
document.write( "fill in the distances:\r\n" );
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document.write( "                 Distance      Rate      Time\r\n" );
document.write( "First train         3x           x        3\r\n" );
document.write( "Second train       255          85        3\r\n" );
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document.write( "The equation comes from\r\n" );
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document.write( "       3x + 255 = 750\r\n" );
document.write( "             \r\n" );
document.write( "Add -255 to both sides:\r\n" );
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document.write( "             3x = 495\r\n" );
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document.write( "Divide both sides by 3\r\n" );
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document.write( "              x = 165\r\n" );
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document.write( "Wow!  165 miles per hr.!! That's a fast train! \r\n" );
document.write( "It's a wonder at that speed it didn't leave the \r\n" );
document.write( "tracks!\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin

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