Algebra word problem has me stumped...

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tanyas1976

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Trains A and B are traveling in the same direction on parallel tracks. Train A is traveling at 60 mph, train B is traveling at 70 mph. Train A passes the station at 10:15pm. If train B passes the same station at 10:45pm at what time will train B catch train A?
__:__ (am/pm)
 
tanyas1976 said:
Trains A and B are traveling in the same direction on parallel tracks. Train A is traveling at 60 mph, train B is traveling at 70 mph. Train A passes the station at 10:15pm. If train B passes the same station at 10:45pm at what time will train B catch train A?
__:__ (am/pm)
Click to expand...

And your work?!!

You have put up four probelms - without a line of work.

Please share your work with us, indicating exactly where you are stuck - so that we may know where to begin to help you.
 
I do not show any work because I do not even begin to understand how to solve the problems..I am asking for guidance not answers..thank you
 
tanyas1976 said:
Trains A and B are traveling in the same direction on parallel tracks. Train A is traveling at 60 mph, train B is traveling at 70 mph. Train A passes the station at 10:15pm. If train B passes the same station at 10:45pm at what time will train B catch train A?
__:__ (am/pm)
Click to expand...

(1) When train B passes the station - how far ahead is train A?

(2) Train be runs 10 mph faster than A. Every hour - how much distance train B will be able make up?

(3) Now calculate how much time train B will need to catch up the distance you calculated in step (1)

(4) Calculate the time on clock....
 
tanyas1976 wrote:Trains A and B are traveling in the same direction on parallel tracks. Train A is traveling at 60 mph, train B is traveling at 70 mph. Train A passes the station at 10:15pm. If train B passes the same station at 10:45pm at what time will train B catch train A?
__:__ (am/pm)


(1) When train B passes the station - how far ahead is train A?

(2) Train be runs 10 mph faster than A. Every hour - how much distance train B will be able make up?

(3) Now calculate how much time train B will need to catch up the distance you calculated in step (1)

(4) Calculate the time on clock....

1.When train B passes the station train A is 30 minutes ahead of train B?
2.Train B runs 10 mph faster than A. For every hour train B will be able to make up 10 minutes?
3.(This is where I get really confused) How do I calculate the time needed for B to catch A?
Is it 3 hours are needed for train B to catch train A? If train B makes up 10 minutes each hour it would take 3 hrs to make up 30 minutes right?
4.Add 3 hours....1:45 am?
Am I on the right track here? No pun intended.. :?
 
tanyas1976 said:
Am I on the right track here? Yes. 1:45 AM is the correct answer.
Click to expand...

You figured it in terms of reducing the time gap between the trains each hour.

Subhotosh was guiding you on a parallel track, by suggesting that you figure the decreasing gap in terms of distance, instead.

At 10:45 PM, the trains are 30 miles apart because (60)(1/2) = 30, in the d = rt formula.

Since train B closes the gap by 10 miles each hour (70mph is 10 miles more each hour than 60mph), that initial 30-mile gap requires 3 hours to completely close.

Different route, same destination. 8-)
 
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