A Bus leaves a station and travels north at 75 kph.
Two hours later a second bus leaves same station traveling north at 100 kph.
How far from the station and after how many hours will the second bus overtake the first bus?

Question

A Bus leaves a station and travels north at 75 kph.
Two hours later a second bus leaves same station traveling north at 100 kph.
How far from the station and after how many hours will the second bus overtake the first bus?

anonymous · Answer

How  to solve this using two variables?

compassionate · Answer

You want to use a system of equations, hun.

debbieg · Answer

I would just let t=time since the FIRST bus left the station. Then at any time t:

1st bus' distance from the station =75t
and 2nd bus' distance from the station =100(t-2)

You want to find t when the distances are the same, so

75t=100(t-2)
200=25t
t=8

Check that back in the original problem to make sure it works:
After 8 hours, the first bus is 75*8=600 miles away from the station.
The 2nd bus is 100*6=600 miles away.

anonymous · Answer

how do you solve it using x and y variables?

anonymous · Answer

you can put y instead of t. what matters?