SOLUTION: Two trains leave a train station at the same time. One travels east at 9 miles per hour. The other train travels west at 8 miles per hour. In how many hours will the two trains be

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Travel -> SOLUTION: Two trains leave a train station at the same time. One travels east at 9 miles per hour. The other train travels west at 8 miles per hour. In how many hours will the two trains be       Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 835712: Two trains leave a train station at the same time. One travels east at 9 miles per hour. The other train travels west at 8 miles per hour. In how many hours will the two trains be 28.9 miles apart?
Found 2 solutions by richwmiller, josmiceli:
Answer by richwmiller(17219) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
9x+8x=28.9
17x=28.9
x=1.7

Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You can think of one of the trains as
standing still and the other train
moving at the sum of their speeds
-------------------------------
Let +t+ = the number of hours
until they are +28.9+ miles apart
-------------------------------
+28.9+=+%28+9+%2B+8+%29%2At+
+t+=+28.9+%2F+17+
+t+=+1.7+
In 1.7 hrs they will be 28.9 mi apart
---------------------------------
check answer:
Faster train:
+d%5B1%5D+=+9%2A1.7+
+d%5B1%5D+=+15.3+ mi
--------------------
+d%5B2%5D+=+8%2A1.7+
+d%5B2%5D+=+13.6+
---------------
+d%5B1%5D+%2B+d%5B2%5D+=+15.3+%2B+13.6+
+d%5B1%5D+%2B+d%5B2%5D+=+28.9+ mi
OK