SOLUTION: I have tried what I thought to be the rate x time=distance formula for the problem below: John and Bill left a bus terminal at the same time and travelled in opposite directions

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Question 97149: I have tried what I thought to be the rate x time=distance formula for the problem below:
John and Bill left a bus terminal at the same time and travelled in opposite directions. John's bus was in heavy traffic and had to travel 20 mi/h slower than Bill's bus. After 3 hours, their buses were 270 miles apart. How fast was each bus going?
I tried doing:
x+x+20(3)=270
2x+60=270
-60=270-60
2x/2=210/2
x=105 mi/h
x+20=125 mi/h
This did not make much sense to me as to why a bus would be going 125 mi/h, and I just am not sure how to set up the correct formula.
Answer by checkley71(8403) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Distance=rate*time. Here you have to add both Bob's & John's distances.
270=3*b+3(b-20) [3*b is Bob's speed, 3(b-20)=John's speed]
270=3b+3b-60
6b=270+60
6b=330
b=330/6
b=55 mph.
proof
270=3*55+3(55-20)
270=165+3*35
270=165+105
270=270