SOLUTION: 2 cars leave a city. One is traveling east at 66 mph and the car going west is traveling at 62 mph. How long will it take for them to be 704 miles apart? I went ahead and figur

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Travel -> SOLUTION: 2 cars leave a city. One is traveling east at 66 mph and the car going west is traveling at 62 mph. How long will it take for them to be 704 miles apart? I went ahead and figur      Log On

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Question 1051818: 2 cars leave a city. One is traveling east at 66 mph and the car going west is traveling at 62 mph. How long will it take for them to be 704 miles apart?
I went ahead and figured out how many miles each car has to drive before they will be 704 miles apart by dividing 704 by 2 to get 351 miles. I'm just having trouble figuring out how to break down this problem to solve it after that. I'm not even sure if dividing 704 by 2 was the right first step. I am just mostly unsure of how to break down this problem to figure it out.

Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +d+ = the distance in miles the
+66+ mi/hr car travels
+704+-+d+ = the distance in miles the
+62+ mi/hr car travels
Let +t+ = time in hrs when they are
+704+ mi apart
----------------------------------------
(1) +d+=+66t+
(2) +704+-+d+=+62t+
---------------------------
Substitute (1) into (2)
(2) +704+-+66t+=+62t+
(2) +128t+=+704+
(2) +t+=+5.5+
------------------
In 5.5 hrs they will be 704 mi apart
-----------------------------------
check:
(1) +d+=+66t+
(1) +d+=+66%2A5.5+
(1) +d+=+363+ mi
and
(2) +704+-+d+=+62t+
(2) +704+-+d+=+62%2A5.5+
(2) +704+-+d+=+341+
(2) +d+=+704+-+341+
(2) +d+=+363+ mi
OK