SOLUTION: A train starts from Peoria at 2 p.m. and heads for Reedley, 750 miles away. At the same time, a train leaves Reedley and heads for Peoria at 85 miles per hr. If the trains meet at

Make this chart:

                 Distance      Rate      Time
First train         
Second train     

Let the answer be x, the rate of the first train,
and fill in the rates of both trains

                 Distance      Rate      Time
First train                      x        
Second train                    85        


Both trains started at 2 p.m. and met at 5 p.m.,
so both trains' times are 3 hours, so fill in 3
for the times for both trains:

                 Distance      Rate      Time
First train                      x        3
Second train                    85        3

Now use the formula: distance = rate × time to
fill in the distances:

                 Distance      Rate      Time
First train         3x           x        3
Second train       255          85        3



The equation comes from



       3x + 255 = 750
             
Add -255 to both sides:

             3x = 495

Divide both sides by 3

              x = 165

Wow!  165 miles per hr.!! That's a fast train! 
It's a wonder at that speed it didn't leave the 
tracks!

Edwin