Question 518264
To begin, we must start with an equation.  Now since the answer is in hours (we want to know how many hours it takes to have the cars 55 miles apart) 
we attach a variable {{{h}}} to the equation representing hours.

{{{55h (Metro)}}} and {{{65h (Miata)}}}

. Now since we want to known how long it will take for Metro and Miata to be 55 miles apart we write an equation 

{{{65h - 55h = 55}}}

>>>>Note: the reason we subtract 65h from 55h is because 65h (Miata) will travel faster than 55h (Metro) and we want to find the "difference" between them.<<<<<

Now we can combine "like terms" or simply subtract the {{{65h}}} from the {{{55h}}} to get {{{10h}}} to make:

{{{10h=55}}}

Next we divide both sides by {{{10}}} to get {{{h}}} by it self:

{{{10h/10=55/10}}}

Finally through some simple simplification we can figure out that the {{{10h/10}}} cancels out to be just {{{h}}} and the {{{55/10}}} can be rewritten as {{{5.5}}}

Thus the answer is {{{h=5.5}}}

Or simply put, in five and a half hours Miata will be 55 miles ahead of Metro.