two trains start from towns 144 mi apart and travel towards eachother on parallel tracks they pass eachother 1.6 hour later if one train travels 10 mph faster then the other find the speed of each train

Question

dumbcow · Answer

distance = rate*time

the combined distance is 144 for both trains and the time it takes is 1.6 hrs

$$1.6r_1 + 1.6r_2 = 144$$
and
$$r_1 = r_2 +10$$

substitute and find r_1 and r_2

dumbcow · Answer

you could also rearrange the equations

-by dividing by 1.6
$$r_1 + r_2 = 90$$
and
$$r_1 -r_2 = 10$$

so what 2 numbers add to 90 but have a difference of 10?

anonymous · Answer

40 and 50

dumbcow · Answer

yep...those are the speeds of 2 trains

anonymous · Answer

thank you so much!

dumbcow · Answer

yw...i hope you understood the equations because most of the time the solution isn't this straightforward and you need to solve the system with substitution or elimination

anonymous · Answer

yes i understand im horrible at math and i have been having a hard time picking this up

dumbcow · Answer

keep practicing, once you understand the best way to get good at math is practice and repitition