you and your friend left a bus terminal at the same time and traveled in opposite directions. Your bus was in heavy traffic and had to travel 20 miles per hour slower than your friend's bus. After 3 hours, the buses were 270 miles apart. How fast was each bus going?

Given:

Les x stands for Speed of Friend's Bus

Your bus = 20 miles per hour slower than your friend's bus which means x - 20

After 3 hours, the buses were 270 miles apart.

So in equation:

3(x) + 3(x-20) = 270

3x + 3x - 60 = 270

6x -60 + 60 = 270 +60

6x = 330

6x/6 = 330/6

x = 55 miles per hour(Your friends bus)

x - 20 = 55 - 20 = 35 miles per hour (your bus)

Therefore your bus runs 35 miles per hour and your friend's bus run 55 miles per hour.

Checking:

55 miles/hour x 3 hours = 165 miles

35 miles/hour x 3 hours = 105 miles

Total 165 miles + 105 miles = 270 miles.