Problema Solution
a freight train leave the train station 4 hours before a passenger train. the two trains are traveling in the same direction on parallel track. if the rate of the passenger train is 40mph faster than the freight train, how fast is each train traveling if the passenger train passes the freight train in 4 hours
Answer provided by our tutors
let
v1 = the speed of the freight train
t1 = the time of the freight train
v2 = the speed of the passenger train
t2 = 4 hr the time of the passenger train
a freight train leave the train station 4 hours before a passenger train:
t1 = t2 + 4
t1 = 4 + 4
t1 = 8 hr
the rate of the passenger train is 40mph faster than the freight train:
v2 = v1 + 40
since they both pass the same distance and distance = speed*time we have
v1*t1 = v2*t2
8*v1 = 4*v2 divide both sides by 8
2v1 = v2
by solving the system of equations:
v2 = v1 + 40
2v1 = v2
we find:
v1 = 40 mph
v2 = 80 mph
click here to see the step by step solution of the system of equations:
the speed of the freight train is 40 mph.
the speed of the passenger train is 80 mph.