how long will it take for the two trains to meet

Question

Two trains leave stations
288
miles apart at the same time and travel toward each other. One train travels at
75
miles per hour while the other travels at
85
miles per hour. How long will it take for the two trains to meet?

Answer 1

Use the formula: distance = rate x time

 

We can say that train 1 travels a distance of x, and train 2 travels a distance of 288 - x

 

The rate of train 1 is 75 mph, and the rate of train 2 is 85 mph

 

The time traveled for the two trains will be the same. We can represent that with the variable t.

 

We have the following equation for train 1:

 

x = 75t

 

For train 2, we have this equation:

 

288 - x = 85t

 

Use the Substitution Method by replacing x in the equation for train 2 with the value 75t.

 

288 - 75t = 85t

 

288 = 160t

 

288/160 = 9/5 = 1 4/5 = 1 8/10 = 1.8 hours.

 

0.8 hours = 48 min.

 

It will take 1 hour and 48 min. for the two trains to meet.