Question

A train leaves Buffalo traveling west at 60 miles per hour. An hour later, another train leaves Buffalo traveling east at 80 miles per hour. When are the two trains the same distance from Buffalo? Show the equation you use and solve it.

Answer 1

Where y is the the total distance and x is the time traveled, for the first train:

y = 60x + 60 (It got a 60 mile head start, we can say)

For the second train:

y = 80 x + 0

Set the two equations equal to eachother:

60x + 60 = 80x

Subtract 60x from both sides

60 = 20 x

Divide by 20 on both sides

x = 3 so three hours after the second train departs or four from when the first train departed.