SOLUTION: A train leaves NYC for Washington DC traveling at 90 mph. At the SAME TIME, a train leaves Washington DC for NYC traveling at 95 mph. If NYC and Washington DC are 462.5 miles apart

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Question 647172: A train leaves NYC for Washington DC traveling at 90 mph. At the SAME TIME, a train leaves Washington DC for NYC traveling at 95 mph. If NYC and Washington DC are 462.5 miles apart, how long will it take before the two trains meet?
*I do believe that "how long will it take" refers to the distance in miles since the problem doesn't involve time.
Will the question have two answers since there are two starting points?
Thank you for your help :D
Found 2 solutions by stanbon, ankor@dixie-net.com:
Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A train leaves NYC for Washington DC traveling at 90 mph. At the SAME TIME, a train leaves Washington DC for NYC traveling at 95 mph. If NYC and Washington DC are 462.5 miles apart, how long will it take before the two trains meet?
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NYC to DC DATA:
rate = 90 mph ; time = d/r = x hrs ; distance = 90x miles
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DC to NYC DATA:
rate = 95 mph ; time = d/r = x hrs ; distance = 85x miles
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Equation:
distance + distance = 462.5 miles
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90x + 85x = 462.5
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175x = 462.5
x = 2.64 = 2 hrs 39 minutes(time before the 2 trains meet)
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A train leaves NYC for Washington DC traveling at 90 mph.
At the SAME TIME, a train leaves Washington DC for NYC traveling at 95 mph.
If NYC and Washington DC are 462.5 miles apart, how long will it take
before the two trains meet?
:
let t = traveling time in hr until they meet
:
When they meet the sum of the two trains traveling distances will equal 462.5
Write a distance equation; dist = speed * time
:
90t + 95t = 462.5
add like terms
185t = 462.5
divide both sides by 185
t =
t = 2.5 hrs for them to meet
:
:
You can check this by finding the actual distance each train traveled
2.5(90) = 225 mi
2.5(95) = 237.5 mi
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total dist: 462.5, the dist from N.Y to D.C.