A train leaves Miami at 3:00pm. A second train leaves the same city in the same direction at 5:00pm. The second train travels 50mph faster than the first. If the second train overtakes the first at 7:00pm, what is the speed of each of the two trains.

Question

Mathematics

Melendez

15 December, 18:12

A train leaves Miami at 3:00pm. A second train leaves the same city in the same direction at 5:00pm. The second train travels 50mph faster than the first. If the second train overtakes the first at 7:00pm, what is the speed of each of the two trains.

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Answers (1)

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Julissa Mayo · Answer 1

Let the speed of the first train be v mph. Then the speed of the second train is:

(v + 50) mph.

Distance traveled by the first train from 3pm to 7pm = 4v miles.

The second train travels 4v miles in 2 hours (from 5pm to 7pm). Therefore the speed of the second train = (4v) / 2 = 2v.

However the speed of the second train is also given by (v + 50) mph.

v + 50 = 2v

v = 50.

The speed of the first train is 50 mph and the speed of the second train is 100 mph.