Enter an equation that can be used to solve this problem, where x represents the number of hours that the first plane had been traveling.

Two planes left the same airport traveling in opposite directions. The first plane left the airport at 2 P.M. traveling at an average rate of 500 mph. The second plane left the airport at 4 P.M. traveling at an average rate of 550 mph. When will the planes be 3100 miles apart?

Question

Enter an equation that can be used to solve this problem, where x represents the number of hours that the first plane had been traveling.

Two planes left the same airport traveling in opposite directions. The first plane left the airport at 2 P.M. traveling at an average rate of 500 mph. The second plane left the airport at 4 P.M. traveling at an average rate of 550 mph.  When will the planes be 3100 miles apart?

mysticfury · Answer

@Awolflover1 @AloneS @pooja195 @agent0smith

mysticfury · Answer

500x - 550x = 3100 

this is what i have currently but, its not right and idk where to go from here

mysticfury · Answer

@hartnn @zepdrix @Nnesha

mysticfury · Answer

@mathstudent55

kittiwitti1 · Answer

well I think they would not be both $x$ as they left at different times...

awolflover1 · Answer

500 x - 1100 + 550 x = 3100 ? I'm confused

mysticfury · Answer

i was thinking more of 550(x - 2) - 500x = 3100?

kittiwitti1 · Answer

That might work, yes.

awolflover1 · Answer

yeah

mysticfury · Answer

hmm

mysticfury · Answer

@kidrah69 @whpalmer4 @YanaSidlinskiy @welshfella

kittiwitti1 · Answer

Hm? Are you still confused?

mysticfury · Answer

yeah

kittiwitti1 · Answer

Where at? o:

mysticfury · Answer

im confused on how to make the equation

kittiwitti1 · Answer

I think you were going in the right direction.

welshfella · Answer

for the first 2 hours the first plane travels 1000 miles ( as it travles at 500 mph)
At 4 pm they are travelling apart at a rate of 500 + 550 = 1050 mph

mysticfury · Answer

ok..

welshfella · Answer

so they travel another 2100 miles after the second plane takes off.
During this journey the first plane will travel for (x - 2) hours
so our equation is 

1050( x - 2) = 2100

solve for x

mysticfury · Answer

okay then . it dosent want you to solve it just to put an equation

welshfella · Answer

yes

mysticfury · Answer

wait 2100 ? why 2100?

welshfella · Answer

3100 - 1000

mysticfury · Answer

oh so 1050(x - 2) = 2100 is the equation?

welshfella · Answer

the planes are 1000 miles apart when the second plane takes off.

mysticfury · Answer

but since the second plane is at a faster speed wouldnt that mean the planes get closer together instead of farther away?

welshfella · Answer

yes
where  x = number of hours the first plane travels
he has already been 2 hours in the sir before the second takes off. Thats why its (x - 2) hours for the journey of 2100 miles

welshfella · Answer

No - they are travelling in opposite directions.

mysticfury · Answer

ohhhhhh

mysticfury · Answer

okay i get it now , since they are traveling in opposite directions, i forgot about that

welshfella · Answer

so they travel apart at the rate of the sum of their speeds  500 + 550

mysticfury · Answer

yep yep, okay i thought they were going in the same direction XD thanks a lot!

welshfella · Answer

yw

agent0smith · Answer

A diagram would've helped you make sense of the opposite directions part.

agent0smith · Answer

"okay i thought they were going in the same direction XD"
or just reading the question clearly lol