Question

if one car drives at 83 mph and the other drives at 83 mph how long until their 83 miles apart.

i did 83x + 48x = 83

131x = 83/131 divided by 1

x = 83/131

multiply by 60/1 = 131 multiplied by 60 = 2.2

i got 2.2 hours
Reiny
no

first of all your equation does not "match" your question.
Did you want the 2nd car to have a speed of 83 mph or 48 mph ?

I will assume it was 48 mph
I will assume you let the time it took for this to happen to be x hrs
then indeed: 83x + 48x = 83
131x = 83
x = 83/131 hrs or .6336 hrs
or appr 38 minutes

your last two steps make no sense to me.