distance rate problem?

Question

so here it is, another GMAT question that my software fails to explain adequately

Two cars, A and B traveled toward each other from the opposite ends of a 120-mile straight road. If car A traveled at a constant rate of 37 miles per hour and car B traveled at a constant rate of 23 miles per hour, then how much time had elapsed when the two cars met?

Answer 1

When the two cars meet, lets say, x and (120-x) are the distance from the end points for car A and B respectively.

t = x/37
t = (120 - x)/23

x/37 = (120 - x)/23
23x = 4440 - 37x
60x = 4440
x = 74 miles

Time elapsed = 74/37 = 2 hrs

Answer 2

After exactly two hours car A will make 74 miles and it will met car B which will have done 46 miles. (So, the answer to the problem is: TWO HOURS)

There are two traps on this problem.
First easy mistake you can make is trying to find the time to reach the central point, in this case, both cars pass the central point at different times, making impossible one single answer.
Second easy mistake is adding 37 miles from car A to 23 miles from car B, it will give you 60 miles, that number (which is half distance between both cars) may confuse you and you may be tempted to answer "One hour"

Answer 3

Correct so far. Or in other terms...
It would be the same time as if just one car would go the whole distance at the speed of both cars added up.
It takes 2 hours to travel 120 miles at 60 mph.

Answer 4

Relative speed of A to B is 60mph
t = 120 / 60 hours
t = 2 hours
Meet after 2 hours.

Answer 5

Assuming x is the amount of hour they will meet.
37x + 23x = 120
60x = 120
x = 120 / 60
x = 2 hours