A transit train from Boston to New York and a passenger train from New York to Boston both departed at 3:00. The distance between the New York station and the Boston station is 280 miles. The speed of the transit train was 80 miles per hour. The speed of the passenger train was 60 miles per hour. At what time will the trains pass each other?

Question

Natalie Stanley

Mathematics

28 May, 12:51

A transit train from Boston to New York and a passenger train from New York to Boston both departed at 3:00. The distance between the New York station and the Boston station is 280 miles. The speed of the transit train was 80 miles per hour. The speed of the passenger train was 60 miles per hour. At what time will the trains pass each other?

+5

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Lucero · Answer 1

The two trains are closing the initial distance between that of 280 miles by the sum of their two speeds. 80mph + 60mph = 140 mph. With the speed that the distance between the trains is closing, we can divide the starting distance to find out the number of hours until the trains pass. 280 miles / 140 mph = 2 hours. Since the trains left at 3:00 and will pass each other in 2 hours, they will pass each other at 5:00.