Question 776397
Please solve this word problem for me: A freight train leaves the station at 5AM and travels north 40MPH. At 6AM a passenger train leaves on a parallel track and travels north at 45MPH. How long will it take the passenger train to overtake the freight train
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At 6AM the freight train is 40 miles down the track,
because distance = rate×time = 40MPH×1 hour.  The 
passenger train's catch-up rate is their difference 
in speeds, 45-40MPH or 5MPH.  Since time = distance/rate, 
it will take 40/5 or 8 hours for the passenger train to
catch up the freight train's 40 mile headstart and 
overtake the freight train.

Edwin</pre>