SOLUTION: A freight train leaves the train station 4 hours before a passenger train. The two trains are traveling in the same direction on parallel tracks. If the rate of the passenger tra
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Question 1064814: A freight train leaves the train station 4 hours before a passenger train. The two trains are traveling in the same direction on parallel tracks. If the rate of the passenger train is 40 mph faster than the freight train, how fast is each train traveling if the passenger train passes the freight train in 5 hours? Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Let = the rate of the freight train in mi/hr
The freight train's head start is = the rate of the passenger train in mi/hr
Let = the distance in miles the passenger train travels
until it catches the freight train
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The time is hrs for both trains when the
passenger train catches the freight train
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Equation for freight train:
(1)
Equation for the passenger train:
(2)
---------------------------------
(1)
(1)
and
(2)
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Substitute (1) into (2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
and
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The passenger train's rate is 90 mi/hr
The freight train's rate is 50 mi/hr
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check:
(2)
(2)
(2) mi
and
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
and mi/hr
OK
