SOLUTION: A train and a car leave a station at the same time, the train traveling due north and the car traveling due west. When they are 100 miles apart, the train has traveled 20 miles far

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Question 740750: A train and a car leave a station at the same time, the train traveling due north and the car traveling due west. When they are 100 miles apart, the train has traveled 20 miles farther than the car. Find the distance each has traveled.
Answer by mananth(16946) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
At any given time they form a right angle with the starting point.
100 miles apart
hypotenuse = 100
car x miles
train (x+20) miles
apply Pythagorean theorem
x^2+(x+20)^@=100^2
x^2+x^2+40x+400=10000
2x^2+40x-9600=0
/2
x^2+20x-4800
x^2+80x-60x-4800=0
(x+80)(x-60)=0
ignore negative
x= 60
car 60 miles
train 80 miles