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Conference rusure::math

Title:Mathematics at DEC
Moderator:RUSURE::EDP
Created:Mon Feb 03 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2083
Total number of notes:14613

452.0. "Trains passing each other ..." by KEEPER::KOSTAS () Mon Mar 10 1986 22:04

    A NORTH-bound train 88 Yards long meets a SOUTH-bound train also
    88 Yards long at 12 o'clock and takes 6 seconds to pass it. At 15
    minutes and 3 seconds after 12 it meets another south-bound train
    132 Yards long and takes 6 seconds to pass it. When will the second
    SOUTH-bound train overtake the first if the rate of the NORTH-bound
    train is 35 miles per hour?
    
    Note:
    
        35 miles per hour is = 35*(5280 /3) /(60 * 60) yards per second
                             = 154/9 yards per second.
    
    Enjoy.
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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452.1BEING::POSTPISCHILAlways mount a scratch monkey.Tue Mar 11 1986 09:3027
    1:15, assuming "overtake" means the front of one train passes the
    front of the other.  I hope they are on different tracks.
    
    To obtain that solution, convert all units to yards, seconds, or
    yards per second.  Write six functions:
    
    	1) position of front of north-bound train:
    		Vn*t
    	2) position of back of north-bound train:
    		Vn*t - 88 yards
    	3) position of front of first south-bound train:
    		-Vs*t
    	4) position of back of first south-bound train:
    		-Vs*t + 88 yards
    	5) position of front of second south-bound train:
    		(Vn*900) - Vx(t-900)
        6) position of back of second south-bound train:
    		(Vn*900) - Vx(t-900) + 132 yards
    
    Time and distance are measured from noon at the place where the first
    trains met.  North is positive.  Set 2 and 4 equal at t=6 and solve
    for Vs.  Set 2 and 6 equal at t=906 and solve for Vx.  Set 3 and
    5 equal and solve for t. 
    
    
    
    				-- edp