Question

Two trains leave the station at the same time. The first train is traveling north and the second train is traveling south 20 mph slower. After 2 hours, they are 180 miles apart. How fast is each train moving? PLEASE HELP THANKS SO MUCH!

Answer 1

To work out speeds you need to know the distance that each train has travelled.
So an equation needs to be formed
x = distance of slower train
x + 40 = distance of faster train   (it is + 40 as the trains were travelling for 2 hours not one hour so 20 x 2 = 40)

so, x + x + 40 = 180
2x + 40 = 180
2x = 140
x = 70

Distance of slower train = 70 miles
Distance of faster train = 70 + 40 = 110 miles

To work out speed divide the distances by 2 as speed = distance/time

speed of slower train = 70/2 = 35mph
speed of faster train = 110/2 = 55mph