Question

A passenger train and a freight train leave San Jose at 3 p.m., traveling in the same direction. The passenger train is going three times as fast as the freight train. At 6 p.m. they are 240 miles apart. How fast is each travelling?

Answer 1

There is a 3 hour difference in travel time.
So if x is the speed of the freight train and distance is 240 miles...
3(3x)-3x=240
9x-3x=240
6x=240
x=240/6
x= 40mph for the freight train..
passenger train is 3 times faster than the freight..
3×40=120mph

Answer 2

There is a 3 hour difference in travel time.

So if x is the speed of the freight train and distance is 240 miles...

3(3x)-3x=240

9x-3x=240

6x=240

x=240/6

x= 40mph for the freight train..

passenger train is 3 times faster than the freight..

3×40=120mph