SOLUTION: Using D+RT Two trucks leave warehouses that are 540 miles apart traveling toward one another. They meet 4 hours late. The first truck was traveling 15 mph slower than the second

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Travel -> SOLUTION: Using D+RT Two trucks leave warehouses that are 540 miles apart traveling toward one another. They meet 4 hours late. The first truck was traveling 15 mph slower than the second       Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 1041719: Using D+RT Two trucks leave warehouses that are 540 miles apart traveling toward one another. They meet 4 hours late. The first truck was traveling 15 mph slower than the second truck. How fast was each truck traveling?
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You can imagine that one of the trucks is standing still
and the other is moving at the sum of their speeds
Let +s+ = the speed in mi/hr of the 2nd truck
+s+-+15+ = the speed in mi/hr of the 1st truck
--------------------------------------------
+540+=+%28+s+%2B+s+-+15+%29%2A4+
+540+=+%28+2s+-+15+%29%2A4+
+540+=+8s+-+60+
+8s+=+600+
+s+=+75+
and
+s+-+15+=+75+-+15+
+s+-+15+=+60+
The faster truck's speed was 75 mi/hr
The slower truck's speed was 60 mi/hr
---------------------------------
check:
+d%5B1%5D+=+75%2A4+
+d%5B2%5D+=+60%2A4+
----------------
+d%5B1%5D+=+300+ mi
and
+d%5B2%5D+=+240+ mi
-------------------
+d%5B1%5D+%2B+d%5B2%5D+=+540+
+300+%2B+240+=+540+
+540+=+540+
OK