Question

Two trains leave at the same time from stations that are 480 mi apart and travel toward each other on parallel tracks. If the eastbound train travels 10 mi/hr slower than the westbound train and they pass each other 6 hours later, how fast is the westbound train traveling?

Help me Please I hate Word Problems!

Answer 1

The speed at which the Westbound train is traveling is 45 miles per hour

Explanation:

Here, we want to know the speed at which the Westbound train is traveling.

Now, let the speed of the westbound train be x mi/hr, what this means is that the speed of the east bound train will be (x-10) mi/hr since it’s 10 mi/hr slower.

Now, we are told that they pass each other 6 hours later

Mathematically, we know that distance = speed * time

The distance covered by the westbound train in 6 hours will be 6 * x = 6x miles

The distance covered by the Eastbound train in 6 hours will be 6(x -10) = (6x-60) mi/hr

Since both trains pass by each other at the 6 hour mark, it means they have both covered the distance of 480 miles between them at this time.

So by adding the individual distances, then we have a total of 480 miles

Thus, mathematically;

6x + 6x -60 = 480

12x = 480 + 60

12x = 540

x = 540/12

x = 45 mi/hr