Two trains depart from City A heading towards City B, which is located 120 miles away from City A. They both travel at the same time, with average speeds of 50 miles per hour and 90 miles per hour respectively. Simultaneously, another train leaves City B towards City A at an average speed of 80 miles per hour. What is the distance from City B to the slower train from City A when the faster train from City A encounters the train from City B?

Answer Choices

Correct answer marked below

20 miles

30 miles

40 miles

Correct

50 miles

60 miles

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Explanation

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Official Explanation

Official

Train P = 50 mph, Train Q = 90 mph, Train R = 80 mph. i) Determine when Train Q and Train R meet: Let the time they meet be x minutes after departure. The distance covered by Q in x minutes = 90*x/60. The distance covered by R in x minutes = 80*x/60. The distance covered by R in x…

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What this question tests

What it tests

Your application of distance = rate × time to trains, boats, and commuters, including relative speed.

Common trap

Mixing units (miles per hour vs. minutes) or averaging speeds — average speed is total distance over total time.