Question

Two trains leave towns 1152km apart at the same time and travel toward each other. One train travels 14km/h slower than the other. If they meet in 4 hours, what is the rate of each train?

Answer 1

137 km/h and 151 km/h

Explanation:

Let x km/h be the rate of slower train, then (x+14) km/h is the rate of faster train.

In 4 hours:

• the slower train covers the distance 4x km;
• the faster train covers the distance 4(x+14) km.

Since they meet in 4 hours, then they cover in total the whole distance between two cities, so

4x+4(x+14)=1152

Solve this equation for x:

4x+4x+56-1152

8x=1152-56

8x=1096

x=1096/8

x=137 km/h

x+14=137+14=151 km/h