Question

Two cars leave from a town at the same time traveling in opposite directions. One travels 5 mph faster than the other. In 3 hours, they are 267 miles apart. Find how fast each is traveling?

Answer 1

Let the slower cars speed equal X.

The faster cars speed would be X+5 ( 5 mph faster).

They traveled for 3 hours

Multiply the time of travel by speed to equal the number of miles traveled.

So you have:

3X + 3(X+5) = 267 miles

Simplify the left side:

3X + 3X+15 = 267

Combine like terms:

6x + 15 = 267

Subtract 15 from each side"

6x = 252

Divide each side by 6:

x = 252 / 6

X = 42

The slower car was traveling at 42 mph and the faster car was traveling at 47 mph.