SOLUTION: it is 280 miles from Memphis to Birmingham. An expres train left Memphis traveling towards Birmingham at 70 mi/h. Two hours earlier a freight train left Birmingham traveling toward

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Question 1076402: it is 280 miles from Memphis to Birmingham. An expres train left Memphis traveling towards Birmingham at 70 mi/h. Two hours earlier a freight train left Birmingham traveling towards Memphis on a parallel track. The speed of this train was 50 mi/h. How long was it before the two trains meet?
Found 2 solutions by jorel1380, josgarithmetic:
Answer by jorel1380(3719) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let t be the time it takes, in hours, for the trains to meet. The freight train has a two hour head start, at 50 mph. So:
70t+50t+100=280
120t=180
t=180/120 or 3/2 hours after the express train left Memphis before the two trains meet. ☺☺☺☺

Answer by josgarithmetic(39620) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
                  SPEED       TIME       DISTANCE
M to B            70          t          70t
B to M            50          t+2        50(t+2)
Total                                    280

highlight_green%2870t%2B50%28t%2B2%29=280%29

7t%2B5%28t%2B2%29=28
7t%2B5t%2B10=28
12t=18
t=18%2F12=highlight%283%2F2%29

The two trains meet 1.5 hours after the Memphis to Birmingham train leaves.