Question

Two trains leave the station at the same time, one heading west and the other east. The westbound train travels 14 miles per hour slower than the eastbound train. If the two trains are 600 miles apart after 4 hours, what is the rate of the westbound train?Miles per hour=

Answer 1

The rate of the west bound train is 68 miles per hour

Step-by-step explanation:

Here, we want to get the rate of the west bound train

Let the speed of the west bound train be x miles per hour

Since the east bound train is 14 miles per hour faster, her speed will be (x+14) miles per hour

Now, let us calculate the distance they have traveled after 4 hours

We know that distance = speed * time

For the west bound train, distance covered will be x * 4 = 4x miles

For the east bound train, the distance covered will be 4(x+14) miles

Now, they are 600 miles apart

This means the total distance they have have both covered is 600 miles from the start point

Mathematically, we have this as:

`\begin{gathered} 4(x+14)+\text{ 4x = 600} \\ 4x+56\text{ + 4x = 600} \\ 8x\text{ = 600-56} \\ 8x\text{ = 544} \\ x\text{ = }(544)/(8) \\ x=\text{ 68 miles per hour} \end{gathered}`