Question

A diesel train left Washington and traveled

Answer 1

The number of hours the diesel train traveled  before the cattle train caught up is 15 hours

Solution:

Let t = travel time of the diesel train

Then  (t - 2) is the travel time of the cattle train (Left 2 hrs later)

Average speed of diesel train = 52 mph

Average speed of cattle train = 60 mph

To find: number of hours the diesel train traveled  before the cattle train caught up

Distance = speed x time

Distance traveled by diesel train:

Distance = 52 x t = 52t

Distance traveled by cattle train:

Distance = 60 x (t - 2) = 60t - 120

When the cattle train catches the diesel, they will have traveled the

same distance

Distance traveled by diesel train = Distance traveled by cattle train

52t = 60t - 120

60t - 52t = 120

8t = 120

t = 15

Thus the number of hours the diesel train traveled  before the cattle train caught up is 15 hours