Question

Two trains are 500 miles apart when they first start moving towards each other. If in two hours the distance between them is 300 miles and one train goes 20 miles faster than another, find the speed of the faster train. (Note: there are two possible solutions. Could you please find both?)

Answer 1

Explanation:

They travel 500 - 300 = 200 miles in 2 hours so their combined speed is

100 mph.

If their respective speed are x and y mph then we have the system

x + y = 100

x - y = 20

Adding the 2 equations

2x = 120

x = 60

and y = 40.

The other solution is that y = 60 mph and x = 40 mph.