Question 275473
Two cars leave town at the same time going in the same direction.  One travels at 35mph and the other travels 45mph.  In how many hours will they be 50 miles apart?

Let the car at 35mph travel x miles when they meet.

The distance traveled by the second car will be x-50 miles

The speed of the first car is 35 mph

Time taken to travel x miles = x/35  hours

the speed of the second car is 45 mph.

Time taken to travel x-50 = x-50  / 45


Both would have traveled the same time 

x/35 = x-50 / 45 

45x= 35(x-50)

45x= 35x-1750

45x-35x=1750

10x= 1750

x= 1750/10 = 175 miles 

The first car would have traveled 175 miles at a speed of 35 mph

Time taken will be 175/35 = 5 hours.

They will be 50 miles apart after 5 hours.

you were right but should have proceeded to find the time