SOLUTION: There are two trains one traveling east and one traveling west. The train going east is traveling 10 mph. The train traveling west is going 8 mph. In the middle there is a boy w
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Question 249239: There are two trains one traveling east and one traveling west. The train going east is traveling 10 mph. The train traveling west is going 8 mph. In the middle there is a boy walking on the tracks. He is traveling east at 0.5 mph. Both trains are 10 miles away from the boy when they start out. (The boy is midpoint.) Where in miles will the train hit the boy? And which one will hit him first? Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! There are two trains one traveling east and one traveling west.
The train going east is traveling 10 mph
The train going west is traveling 8 mph
In the middle there is a boy walking on the tracks. He is traveling east at 0.5 mph.
Both trains are 10 miles away from the boy when they start out. (The boy is midpoint.)
Where in miles will the train hit the boy? And which one will hit him first?
:
calculate when the eastbound train will hit the boy
Let t = time that this will happen
:
Write a distance equation; dist = speed * time
:
Train dist = boy dist + 10 mi
10t = .5t + 10
10t - .5t = 10
9.5t = 10
t =
t = 1.05263 hrs, hits the boy
:
During this time the boy travels 1.05263 * .5 = .526 mi from the center
:
Eastbound train will hit the boy about .526 mi from the center.
:
Check where the westbound train is from the center when the boy is hit:
10 - 8(1.05263) = 1.579 mi from the center, so it will not hit the boy, he's long gone.
