SOLUTION: A freight train left Beeville at 5am traveling 30mph. At 7am an express train traveling 50 mph left the same station. When did the express overtake the freight? (I believe I know t
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Question 9317: A freight train left Beeville at 5am traveling 30mph. At 7am an express train traveling 50 mph left the same station. When did the express overtake the freight? (I believe I know the answer, I just don't know how to set it up into a table. I believe both trains meet at 10 A.M.) Answer by rapaljer(4671) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! The express overtakes the freight train when distance = distance, or in other words when . Let x = time of the express to overtake the freight train. Then x+2 = time of the freight train (since it is slower, the time is greater than the express),
30(x+2) = 50(x)
30x + 60 = 50x
Subtract 30x from each side:
30x - 30x + 60 = 50x - 30x
60 = 20x
3 = x
The express overtakes the freight train 3 hours after it left at 7 a.m., which you correctly said is at 10 am.
