Question

In 1862, two companies were given the rights to build a railroad from Omaha, Nebraska to Sacramento, California. The Central Pacific Company began from Sacramento in 1863 and averaged 8.75 miles of track per month. Twenty four months later the Union Pacific Company started from Omaha and averaged 20 miles of track per month. The two railroad companies finally met in Utah completing 1,590 mile rail line. How long did the project take? Ho many miles of track did each company build?

Answer 1

distance = rate * time, so if the whole project took m months, we have

8.75m + 20(m-24) = 1590
m = 72

Now use that to find the separate distances.