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| Math Central | Quandaries & Queries |
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Question from J, a parent: Two trains left the city at the same time, traveling in opposite directions. The eastbound train travels for ten hours and the westbound train travels for 5 hours. They are now 1300 km apart. The westbound train's rate is 20 km/hr faster than the eastbound train. Find the speed of each train. any help you can provide would be much appreciated. Thanks. |
Hi J,
The key here is that distance = time × rate. What you are missing is the rate of the eastbound train for if you can determine it then the rate of the westbound train is 20 km/hr faster. So let r be the rate of the eastbound train in km/hr and then the rate of the westbound train is (r + 20) km/hr.
distance = time × rate so for the eastbound train distance = 10 × r miles.
What is the distance the westbound train travels? The sum of these distances is 1300 km. Solve for r.
Penny
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