the sum of the speeds of two trains is 718.9 miles per hour. if the speed of the first train is 5.1 mph faster than the second train, find the speed of each

Question

How fast is each train traveling

Answer 1

You first want to set up an equation for the problem. The equation should look as follows:

 

Train₁ + Train₂ = 718.9 mph

 

Now you know that the speed of the first train is 5.1 mph faster than the second train. Therefore:

 

Train₂ = (Train₁ + 5.1mph)

 

Substitute that into the original equation so that you have:

 

Train₁ + (Train₁ + 5.1mph) = 718.9mph

 

Now simplify your equation so that it says:

 

(2)Train₁ + 5.1mph = 718.9mph

 

Solve your equation for Train₁. Once you get the answer for Train₁ then add 5.1mph to it to get the speed of Train₂.