SOLUTION: Two trains leave the station at the same time, one heading east and the other west. The eastbound train travels 16 miles per hour faster than the westbound train. If the two trains

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Question 1091840: Two trains leave the station at the same time, one heading east and the other west. The eastbound train travels 16 miles per hour faster than the westbound train. If the two trains are 850 miles apart after 5 hours, what is the rate of the eastbound train?
Found 2 solutions by josmiceli, jorel1380:
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +s+ = the speed of the westbound train
+s+%2B+16+ = the speed of the eastbound train
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Add their rates since they are going in opposite directions
+s%2A5+%2B+%28+s%2B16+%29%2A5+=+850+
+5%2A%28+2s+%2B+16+%29+=+850+
+2s+%2B+16+=+170+
+2s+=+154+
+s+=+77+
and
+s+%2B+16+=+93+
--------------------
The rate of the eastbound train is 93 mi/hr
check:
+5s+%2B+5%2A%28+s%2B16+%29+=+850+
+5%2A77+%2B+5%2A93+=+850+
+385+%2B+465+=+850+
+850+=+850+
OK

Answer by jorel1380(3719) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The trains are heading in opposite directions; so we can add their velocities to find their rates. Let t be the westbound train; then the eastbound would be t+16. Then:
5t+5(t+16)=850
10t=770
t=77 mph for the westbound train
t+16=93 mph for the eastbound train
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