Question

Two cars leave Chicago, one traveling east and the other west. After three hours, they are 297 miles apart. If one car is traveling 5 mph faster than the other, what is the speed of each vehicle?

Answer 1

Let the car towards west = W
Car towards east = E

Let E be travelling at X MPH
The W will be travelling at x +5 mph

Because the cars are going in oppisite directions, their relative velocit is the sum their respective velocities. ( using Newtonian )
relative velocity = x + (x +5)
In three hours the distance travelled is 3 * relative velocity
i. distance = 3*(x + (x+5)) = 297
=> 6x + 15 = 297
=> x = (297 -15)/6 = 282/6 = 47

Therefore there exact speed:

47 mph

and

52 mph