Car's rate

Question

Two cars pass eachother traveling in opposite directions. One car is going two and a half times faster than the other car. At the end of the three and a half hours,they are 343 miles apart. Find each car's rate

 

Having hard time solving this. thanks for help!

Answer 1

Jess, we know that distance = rate x time.

 

If x is the slower car's rate, then the faster car is 2.5x, right?

 

We have 3.5x + 3.5(2.5x) = 343

3.5x + 8.75x = 343

12.25x = 343

x = 28

 

So, the slower car is going 28 mph and the faster 70 mph.

 

Hope this helps!