Trains a and b are travelling in the same direction on parallel tracks. Train a is travelling at 40mph and train b is travelling 48mph.Train a passes a station at 3:10 a.m. If train b passes the same station at 3:40 a.m., at what time willtrain b catcth up tomtrain a?

Answer 1

Remember your formula d=rt
40t=48(t-.30)
40t=48t-14.4
combine like terms
40t-48t=-14.4
8t=-14.4
isolate your t
t= 14.4/8 or 1.8 hours

With these word problems it is important to have your formula chart handy. This gives you a map to finding the answer.