a freight train

Question

A freight train leave the station tralevling 32 km/h. two hours later a passenger train leaves the station traveling 52 km/h. how long does it take the passenger train to catch up with the freight train

Answer 1

distance = rate* time.  Let t = the amount of time that the passenger train travels.  The distance that the passenger train travels is:

 

distance_p = (52 km.h)*(t hours)

 

The distance that the freight train has traveled is:

 

distance_f = (32 km/h)*(t + 2 hours)

 

The passenger train catches the freight train when distance_p = distance_f:

 

(52 km.h)*(t hours) = (32 km/h)*(t + 2 hours)

 

52t = 32t + 64

20t = 64

t = 64/20

 

t = 3.2 hours