Two trains, A and B, leave their respective starting points at the same time and travel in opposite directions. They travel at constant speeds, and pass at point M. One travels at twice the speed of the other. If one of the trains leaves five minutes late they pass at a point 2 miles from point M.

What is the speed of the slow train, in miles per hour?

36mph. they cross at 2 miles from point m. Say the faster train was late. so in the time it took the slower train to go the two mile mark from the point m, the faster train traveled 4 miles to the 2 mile mark, making it six miles from point m. if it can travel 6 miles in the five minutes it was late, then it can travel 72 miles in an hour. so the slower train had to be 36 mph. it works when the slower train is late too, i checked.

Posted by ethan on 2003-05-10 14:08:14