SOLUTION: I would like to find out the equation for figuring out how long in seconds that it would take my train which is "x" feet long to completely pass through "y" length of railroad at a

Click here to see ALL problems on Equations

Question 428799: I would like to find out the equation for figuring out how long in seconds that it would take my train which is "x" feet long to completely pass through "y" length of railroad at a given rate speed which is "z" miles per hour.
Your help is greatly appreciated and thank you for assisting those that never took algebra in school (or at least that I remember.)
Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I would like to find out the equation for figuring out how long in seconds that it would take my train which is "x" feet long to completely pass through "y" length of railroad at a given rate speed which is "z" miles per hour.
----
Assuming the train you are passing is not moving:
Assuming that "passing" means the time the front of
your train is parallel one end of the train till
the other end of your train is parallel to the
front end of the other train.
That distance is "x+y" feet
---
time = distance/rate
time = (x+y)ft/z(miles/hour)
----
Convert to seconds
---
= [(x+y)/z](ft)
---
= [(x+y)/z][ft*60 sec./5280 ft]
---
= [60(x+y)/5280z] sec.
---
= [15(x+y)/2640z] sec.
---
= [5(x+y)/880z] sec.
---
= (1/176)[(x+y)/z] sec.
==========================
Cheers,
Stan H.
===========