Two buses leave towns 402mi apart at the same time and travel toward each other.

Question

One bus travels 16 /mih slower than the other. If they meet in 3 hours, what is the rate of each bus?

Answer 1

Buses travelling towards each other have an effective (relative) velocity of their added velocities

 

one bus travels at x mph; and the other at x-16 mph

 

average velocity = distance traveled/time taken

 

x + x - 16 = 402/3 = 134 mph

 

2x - 16 = 134

 

2x = 134 + 16 = 150 mph

 

x = 75 

 

Therefore one bus travels at 75 mph and the other at 75-16 = 59 mph

 

check 402/(75+59) = 3 (proven)