High School

Two buses leave towns 339 miles apart at the same time and travel toward each other. One bus travels 13 miles per hour slower than the other. If they meet in 3 hours, what is the rate of each bus?

Answer :

Final answer:

To determine the rate of each bus heading towards each other from 339 miles apart, we set up an equation using their speeds and the fact that they meet after 3 hours. The faster bus travels at 63 mph and the slower one at 50 mph.

Explanation:

When two buses are traveling towards each other from towns 339 miles apart and meet after 3 hours, to find the rate of each bus, we can set up an equation based on the relative speeds and the distance traveled. Let's denote the speed of the faster bus as v mph. Consequently, the slower bus travels at v - 13 mph. Since they meet after 3 hours, we know that the sum of the distances they travel is equal to 339 miles.

So we have:

  • v (speed of the faster bus)
  • v - 13 (speed of the slower bus)

Distance = Speed
Time, so:

(v
3) + ((v - 13)
3) = 339

Solving the equation:

3v + 3(v - 13) = 339

3v + 3v - 39 = 339

6v = 378

v = 63

So, the faster bus travels at 63 mph, and the slower bus travels at 50 mph.

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