148k views
1 vote
Two trains are 5000 feet apart, heading toward each other, but on separate parallel straight tracks, Train A is traveling at 45 miles per hour and Train B is traveling at 24 miles per hour. Change 45 miles per hour and 24 miles per hour into feet per second.

1 Answer

5 votes

Answer:

45 miles per hour = 66 feet/second

24 miles per hour = 35.2 feet/second

Train A will travel 3260.86 feet before they meet

Train B will travel 1739.13 feet before they meet

The train will meet in 49.41 seconds

Explanation:

Here is the complete question:

Two trains are 5000 feet apart, heading toward each other, but on separate parallel straight tracks, Train A is traveling at 45 miles per hour and Train B is traveling at 24 miles per hour.

Change 45 miles per hour and 24 miles per hour into feet per second.

About how far will each train travel before they meet? Round your answers to the nearest hundredth.

In how many seconds will the trains meet?

Explanation:

To change from miles per hour to feet per second, we will convert miles to feet and hour to second.

(NOTE: 1 mile = 5280 feet and 1 hour = 3600 seconds)

Hence,

For 45 miles per hour

45 miles per hour = 45 × 5280 feet / 3600 second

45 miles per hour = 66 feet/second

For 24 miles per hour

24 miles per hour = 24 × 5280 feet / 3600 second

24 miles per hour = 35.2 feet/second

To determine how far each train will travel before they meet,

Let the distance covered by Train A be x₁

the distance covered by Train B be x₂

and the time they meet be t

From

Speed = Distance / Time

Distance = Speed × Time

For Train A

Speed = 66 feet/second

∴ x₁ = 66t

For Train B

Speed = 35.2 feet/second

∴ x₂ = 35.2t

From the question, the two trains are 5000 feet apart.

Since the trains are 5000 feet apart, this means both trains will cover a total distance of 5000 feet.

∴x₁ + x₂ = 5000 feet

Then,

66t + 35.2t = 5000

101.2t = 5000

t = 5000/101.2

t = 49.407 seconds

t ≅ 49.41 seconds

But

x₁ = 66t

x₁ = 66 × 49.407

x₁ = 3260.86 feet

Hence, Train A will travel 3260.86 feet before they meet

For x₂

x₂ = 35.2t

x₂ = 35.2 × 49.407

x₂ = 1739.13 feet

Hence, Train B will travel 1739.13 feet before they meet

t is the time they meet

Hence, The train will meet in 49.41 seconds

User Unwise Guy
by
5.6k points