Two cars are traveling in the same direction. The first car is going 40 mph and the second car is going 55 mph. The first car left 3 hours before the second car. What is the equation you need to use to find o it how many hours it will take for the second car to catch up to the first car?

Same direction

distance=rate times time

d=rt

time that the first car had was x, at 40mph

d=40x

the 2nd car had x-3 hours, at 55mph

d=55 (x-3)

when will the distances be the same?

40x=55 (x-3)

divide both sides by 5

8x=11 (x-3)

distribute

8x=11x-33

minus 8x both sides

0=3x-33

add 33 both sides

33=3x

diide both sides by 3

11=x

answer is after 11 hours (440 miles)