SOLUTION: Two trains leave the station at the same time, one heading west and the other east. The westbound train travels 14 miles per hour faster than the eastbound train. If the two tra

Algebra ->  Linear-equations -> SOLUTION: Two trains leave the station at the same time, one heading west and the other east. The westbound train travels 14 miles per hour faster than the eastbound train. If the two tra      Log On


   

Question 1109978: Two trains leave the station at the same time, one heading west and the other east. The westbound train travels
14 miles per hour faster than the eastbound train. If the two trains are
800 miles apart after
5 hours, what is the rate of the westbound train?
Do not do any rounding.





Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +s+ = the speed of the eastbound train in mi/hr
+s+%2B+14+ = the speed of the westbound train
You can think of this as one of the trains standing
still and the other one travelling at the sum of their speeds
-------------------------------------------------------
+800+=+%28+s+%2B+s+%2B+14+%29%2A5+
+800+=+%28+2s+%2B+14+%29%2A5+
+800+=+10s+%2B+70+
+10s+=+730+
+s+=+73+
and
+s+%2B+14+=+73+%2B+14+
+s+%2B+14+=+87+
--------------------------------------
The westbound's speed was 87 mi/hr
--------------------------------------
check answer:
(1) +d%5B1%5D+=+s%2A5+
(1) +d%5B1%5D+=+73%2A5+
(1) +d%5B1%5D+=+365+ mi
and
(2) +d%5B2%5D+=+%28+s%2B14+%29%2A5+
(2) +d%5B2%5D+=+87%2A5+
(2) +d%5B2%5D+=+435+
-----------------------------
+d%5B1%5D+%2B+d%5B2%5D+=+800+
+365+%2B+435+=+800+
+800+=+800+
OK