how far has each car traveled when the drivers meet for lunch at 2:24 p.m.

Question

New York City and Washington D.C. are about 240 miles apart.  A car leaves New York City at noon traveling south at 55 miles per hour.  At the same time and along the same route, a second car leaves Washington D.C. bound for New York City traveling north at 45 miles per hour.

Answer 1

The equation that needs to be solved is:

t1=t2

t1 =X/55

t2 = (240-X)/45

making t1=t2 we obtain

(X/55) = (240-X)/45

100X=240*55

X=132 Miles

and the car No2 will run

240-132=108 Miles

Answer 2

the easiest way to think of this question is as follows.

 

When the two cars meet they will have traveled the 240 miles.

 

Distance = speed x time

 

Therefore 55t + 45t = 240 miles

100t = 240

t = 2.4 hours

 

Therefore

distance = 55(2.4) = 132 miles

distance = 45(2.4) = 108 miles