SOLUTION: two cars are 900 miles apart both cars start at the same time and travel toward one another they meet 8 hours later if the speed of one car is 30 miles per hour faster than the oth

Algebra ->  Average -> SOLUTION: two cars are 900 miles apart both cars start at the same time and travel toward one another they meet 8 hours later if the speed of one car is 30 miles per hour faster than the oth      Log On


   

Question 232339: two cars are 900 miles apart both cars start at the same time and travel toward one another they meet 8 hours later if the speed of one car is 30 miles per hour faster than the other what is the exact speed of the faster car.
Answer by half-life(1) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let x equal the speed of the slower car in mph. This means the speed of the faster car is x +30.
If both cars cars are moving towards each other we can add the two speeds together and treat the problem as one moving car.
x +x +30 = 2x +30
distance = (speed)(time)
900 = (2x +30)(8)
900 = 16x +240
16x = 660
x = 41.25mph
add 30 to find the speed of the faster car which is 71.25mph