Two buses leave Atlanta at the same time traveling in opposite directions.

Question

Two buses leave Atlanta at the same time traveling in opposite directions. One bus travels at 58 mph and the other at 54 mph. How soon will they be 392 miles apart?

Answer 1

The question is a matter of time (T) to reach the distance (D) of 392 miles.

 

Since both vehicles travel the same amount of time, only at different rates of speed, the equation is quite simple:

 

392            = 58T + 54T

 

392            = 112T

 

392 / 112  = T

 

3.5              = T

Answer 2

___Bus 1___Atlanta____Bus2_________

|___________392 miles_____________|

 

Distance = rate times time  (d = rt)

 

Bus 1 distance = 58t       Bus 2 distance = 54t

 

The total distance traveled is 392 miles.  This is the distance traveled by Bus 1 and Bus 2 together.

 

Bus 1 distance + Bus 2 distance = 392

 

58t + 54t = 392

 

     112t = 392       divide both sides by 112

 

         t = 3.5 hours

 

 

CHECK

 

Bus 1 distance is 58(3.5) = 203 miles

 

Bus 2 distance is 54(3.5) = 189 miles

 

The total of the miles =      392 miles which is the given distance