Math help...A train leaves town A for town B, traveling at 35 mi/h....?

Question

A train leaves town A for town B, traveling at 35 mi/h. At
the same time, a second train leaves town B for town A at 45 mi/h. If the two towns
are 320 mi apart, how long will it take for the two trains to meet?

Ok, these problems are the worst for me. I would like to know how to arrive to the answer.
Would I do 35 divided into 320 and the same for 45?
The answers would be 9 and seven. Would I add those divide by two, and get 8?
This is really confusing, math is my worst subject, let alone word problems, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Assume the distance they meet is x miles from A. Let that point be C.
Thus distance from B = 320 - x miles

Train from A to B has travelled x miles.
Train from B to A has travelled 320 - x miles.

The concept to understand here is that the time taken by Both the trains to reach point C is same.

Distance = Speed (or rate) * time

Time = Distance/Speed

x/35 = (320-x)/45

45x = 35(320-x)

80x = 320*35

x = 4*35 = 140 miles

Time required = 140/35 = 4 hours

OR

Since the time travelled by both the trains is same, say t hours

then,
Distance travelled by train from A to B = 35t miles
Distance travelled by train from B to A= 45t miles

Total distance = 320 = 35t + 45t = 80t
t = 4 hours

Answer 2

You're right, just don't forget the total distance traveled would be 320 X 2= 640 mi. So 8 * 45=360 and 7 * 35=280, which = the total miles of 640.

Answer 3

You're seeking time = t. Use Rt = D.
t = D/35 = (320 - D)/45, i.e., both trains travel for t. Then
45 D = 11200 - 35 D or 80 D = 11200, D = 140.
t = 140/35 = 4. So in four hours they will meet. Train 1 travesl 140 miles, while 2 travels 180.

Answer 4

The total speed is 35+45 = 80 mi/h.

Dividing distance by speed you get the time:

(320 mi) / (80mi/h) = 4 hours.

Easy?

Answer 5

As they are moving towards each other their relative speed would be 35+45 or 80 mph with respect to each other.
Therefore,they meet after 320/80 or 4 hours

These sort of problems are not at all difficult.Just look at the problem.if the two trains or cars or persons are moving towards each other the sum of their speed
will be the speed with which they would be approaching each other.It is called relative speed in Math.Now,after finding the relative speed ,just divide the distance by the relative speed and you get your answer.
Hope it helps

Answer 6

Start out with the formula: rate * time = distance
Let t = time in hours.
After t hours, the first train will have travelled 35t miles and the second train will have travelled 45t miles.
When the trains meet, these two distances add up to the 320 miles.
Thus 35t + 45t = 320
80t = 320
t = 4
Thus the trains meet after 4 hours.

Answer 7

Let x = no. of hours the two trains need to travel in order to meet at 320 miles apart.

Answer:
35x + 45x = 320
80x = 320
x = 4 hours

Answer 8

The answer given by Math Prof. is the BEST answer you could ever get!!!