Train collision

Question

Two trains leave different stations at different times. train A leaves station A at 5 am at 60 mph, train B leaves station B at 7 am going 70 mph, and the distance between station A and B is 435 miles. When do they collide??

Answer 1

To solve this problem, we need to determine how long it will take for the two trains to meet. We can start by using the formula:

distance = speed x time

Let t be the time (in hours) that both trains have traveled when they collide.

For train A, the distance traveled is 60t miles (since it leaves at 5 am and travels for t hours).

For train B, the distance traveled is 70(t-2) miles (since it leaves at 7 am and travels for t-2 hours, accounting for the 2-hour head start of train A).

Since the two trains are moving towards each other, the sum of their distances traveled will be equal to the total distance between the two stations:

60t + 70(t-2) = 435

Expanding the equation and solving for t, we get:

60t + 70t - 140 = 435

130t = 575

t = 4.423 hours

Therefore, the two trains will collide 4.423 hours after train A leaves station A, which is at 9:26 am.