Problema Solution

The fastest train in the world, a Meglev train, carries passengers 30 kilometers in just 8 minutes.

In California, transportation officials want to build a Maglev train to take passengers from San Francisco to Los Angeles, a distance of 340 miles. Currently, this trip takes approximately 6 hours by car. The train will be built only if it will reduce travel time from San Francisco to Los Angeles by 50% or more.

Answer provided by our tutors

The time it takes by car:

340 miles / 6 hours = 5.67 hours


50% of that time:

(340/6)*0.5 = 2.83 hours


The train must make the trip in less than 2.83 hours if it is going to be built.


The speed of the train in miles per hour:

(30 km/8 min.) * (60 min/1 hr) * (1 mile/1.609 km) = 139.8 miles per hour


The time it would take by train:

340 miles / (139.8 miles / hour) = 2.43 hours


The train would be built because it reduces by travel time by approximately 1/2 (0.4) hours.