SOLUTION: This is another problem from a handout. Please let me know if I got it right??? A DIESEL TRAIN LEFT THE STATION TEN HOURS BEFORE A FREIGHT TRAIN. THE TRAINS TRAVELED IN OPPOSITE

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Travel -> SOLUTION: This is another problem from a handout. Please let me know if I got it right??? A DIESEL TRAIN LEFT THE STATION TEN HOURS BEFORE A FREIGHT TRAIN. THE TRAINS TRAVELED IN OPPOSITE      Log On

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Question 197791: This is another problem from a handout. Please let me know if I got it right???
A DIESEL TRAIN LEFT THE STATION TEN HOURS BEFORE A FREIGHT TRAIN. THE TRAINS TRAVELED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. THE FREIGHT TRAIN TRAVELED AT 20 mph FOR ONE HOUR. AFTER THIS TIME THE TRAINS WERE 680 MILES APART. FIND THE DIESEL TRAIN'S SPEED.
I got 22mph for the diesel.
20x + 20(x-10) = 680
Thank you in advance for your help.

Found 2 solutions by edjones, ptaylor:
Answer by edjones(8007) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The freight train traveled 20 mi
680-20=660 mi traveled by the diesel in 11 hrs
660/11=60 mph diesel's speed.
.
Ed

Answer by ptaylor(2198) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
AT LEAST YOU GAVE IT A TRY!!!!!
Let's check your answer:
The diesel travelled 11 hours at 22 mph or 242 mi; the freight train travelled 1 hour at 20 mph or 20 mi; 242 + 20 does not add up to 680 Mi
If you laid out these word problems so we know what x stands for, it would
usually make the problem easier
Distance(d) equals Rate(r) times Time(t) or d=rt; r=d/t and t=d/r
Let r=rate of the diesel train
Total distance diesel train travelled=r*10 or 10r+r*1=11r
Total distance freight train travelled =20*1=20 mi
Ande we are told that the above two distances add up to 680 mi, so:
11r+20=680 subtract 20 from both sides
11r=660 divide each side by 11
r=60 mph-------------------rate of the diesel

Hope this helps---ptaylor