two streetcars are 11 miles apart and traveling toward each other on parallel tracks, They meet at 12 minutes. Find the speed of each streetcar if one travels 1

Question

two streetcars are 11 miles apart and traveling toward each other on parallel tracks, They meet at 12 minutes. Find the speed of each streetcar if one travels 15 miles per hour faster than the other

Answer 1

Hi Kylee,

 

Let x = speed of one streetcar

 

then x+15 equals the speed of the other (it is 15 mph faster

 

x (12/60)  + (x+15)(12/60)  = 11  ( this is the speed times time for each train and combined they must cover 11 miles

 

x(1/5)  + (x+15)(1/5) = 11

 

now multiply both sides by 5 to clear the fractions

 

x + x + 15 = 55

 

2x + 15 = 55

 

2x = 40   (subtract 15 from both sides

 

x = 20

 

x + 15 = 35

 

 

check it

 

20(1/5) + 35(1/5)

 

4 + 7 = 11 and it checks out

 

Hope this helps