GreenlightTestPrep wrote:
Trains A and B are 190 miles apart. Train A leaves one hour before train B does, traveling at 15 miles per hour directly toward train B. Train B travels at 10 miles per hour directly toward train A. When the trains meet, how many miles has train A traveled?
The great thing about these "multiple traveler" questions is that they can be solved in more than one way.
All we need to do is start with a
word equation.
Since Train A travels for 1 hour longer than Train B, we can write:
Train A's travel time = (Train B's travel time) + 1Let d = the distance Train A traveled
This means that 190 - d = the distance Train B traveled
Now let's transform our word equation into an algebraic equation.
Train A's travel time = (Train B's travel time) + 1Time = distance/speed
We get: d/15 = (190 - d)/10 + 1
Multiply both sides by 30 to get: 2d = 570 - 3d + 30
Simplify: 2d = 600 - 3d
Add 3d to both sides: 5d = 600
Solve: d = 120
Answer: 120