SOLUTION: two trucks leave a warehouse at the same time traveling in opposite directions. the rate of the faster truck exceeds the rate of the slower truck by 5 miles per hour. after 5 hours

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Question 908412: two trucks leave a warehouse at the same time traveling in opposite directions. the rate of the faster truck exceeds the rate of the slower truck by 5 miles per hour. after 5 hours they are 600 miles apart. what is the rate of the two trucks. whats the steps to do this problem?
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +s+ = the speed of the slower truck
+s+%2B+5+ = the speed of the faster truck
Let +d+ = the distance traveled by the slower truck
+600+-+d+ = the distance traveled by the faster truck
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Equation for the slower truck:
(1) +d+=+s%2A5+
Equation for the faster truck:
(2) +600+-+d+=+%28+s+%2B+5+%29%2A5+
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Substitute (1) into (2)
(2) +600+-+5s+=+%28+s+%2B+5+%29%2A5+
(2) +600+-+5s+=+5s+%2B+25+
(2) +10s+=+600+-+25+
(2) +10s+=+575+
(2) +s+=+57.5+
and
+s+%2B+5+=+62.5+
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The speed of the slower truck is 57.5 mi/hr
The speed of the faster truck is 62.5 mi/hr
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check:
(1) +d+=+s%2A5+
(1) +d+=+57.5%2A5+
(1) +d+=+287.5+
and
(2) +600+-+d+=+%28+s+%2B+5+%29%2A5+
(2) +600+-+d+=+62.5%2A5+
(2) +d+=+600+-+312.5+
(2) +d+=+287.5+
OK