Question

Two trains leave the station at the same time, one heading east and the other west. The eastbound train travels 10 miles per hour slower than the westbound train. If the two trains are 1000 miles apart after 5 hours, what is the rate of the eastbound train?

PLEASE QUICK ANSWER

Answer 1

Eastbound train: 95 miles per hour

Westbound train: 105 miles per hour

Explanation:

Let:

• e = speed of the eastbound train
• w = speed of the westbound train

The eastbound train travels 10 miles per hour slower than the westbound train

So e = w - 10

Every hour, the distance between the two trains is the sum of the values.

(w - 10) + w = distance apart in 1 hour

5(w - 10 + w) = distance after 5 hours

Solve:

• 5(w - 10 + w) = 1000
• 5(2w - 10) = 1000
• 10w - 50 = 1000
• 10w = 1050
• w = 105

The westbound train is 105 miles/ hour.

The eastbound train is 95 miles per hour

-Chetan K