Question 1056128

A freight train leaves a station and travels north at the same time a passenger train leaves the same station and travels in the opposite direction. The speed of the freight train is 18 miles per hour slower than the speed of the passenger train. After 2.5 hours the two trains are 205 miles apart. Find the speed of the two trains. THANK YOU!!!!
<pre>Let speed of freight (slower) train be S
Then speed of passenger (faster) train = S + 18
We then get the following DISTANCE equation: 2.5S + 2.5(S + 18) = 205
2.5S + 2.5S + 45 = 205
5S = 205 - 45
5S = 160
S, or speed of freight (slower) train = {{{160/5}}}, or {{{highlight_green(matrix(1,2, 32, mph))}}}
Speed of passenger (faster) train = 32 + 18, or {{{highlight_green(matrix(1,2, 50, mph))}}}