Two locomotives approach each other on parallel tracks. Each have a speed of 95 km/h with respect to the ground. If they are initially 8.5km apart, how long will it be before they reach each other? The answer is 2.7 minutes. I keep getting the "2" part right but never the ".7"
If they are both traveling with the same speed that means that they will reach each other in the middle of the line initially between them. In other words, each will have to travel the same amount before they reach each other. Now you can calculate the time it takes for only one locomotive to travel half of total distance between them, and that time is equal to the time you are looking for. Use \[\ t=\frac{S_{1/2}}{v}\] where t-time, S-distance traveled, v-velocity
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