D= R(T) word problem :(?

Question

Hi, I'm having trouble with a word problem. Suppose a slow train left Texas at 3:00pm and travels east toward florida. 4 hours later a fast train leaves florida headed towards Texas. The fast train is 4 times faster than the slow train. They meet 6 hours after after the fast train leaves Florida. Taking account for the time change, which train is farther from Florida?

Update:

I found out this is a TRICK QUESTION. (Just what I needed to make my anxiety about word problems better eh?) If the two trains meet then they are BOTH the SAME distance from florida. Thanks for the answers.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I don't think there is enough information here to solve.

Let x denote the speed in miles per hour of the slower train. Then, since the fast train is 4 times faster than the slow train, the speed of the fast train is 4x.

Since they meet 6 hours after the fast train leave Florida, the slow train has traveled for 6 + 4 = 10 hours. The distance that the slow train travels in this time 10x, while the distance that the fast train travels in this time is 6(4x) = 24x. Suppose that the distance between Texas and Florida is y miles. The slower train traveled 10x miles from Texas, so it is y - 10x miles from Florida. Then, the faster train is 24x miles from Florida. I don't think there is enough information to show that y - 10x > 24x or y - 10x < 24x. The distance between Texas and Florida is about 1000 miles, so the train leaving Texas would be closer if the slower train is traveling at a speed of about 30 mph, while the faster train is traveling a speed of 120 mph (which seems unreasonable). Otherwise, the train leaving Florida would be closer.

I hope this helps!

? · Answer

Speed slow train from texas is x , distance traveled by slow train =10x , dist travelled by train from florida =6*4x=24x ,

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D= R(T) word problem :(?

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