# Math Help - I need a starting point for this problem!

1. ## I need a starting point for this problem!

Wendy took a 300 mile trip. She did part of it by bus at a speed of 40 mph and the rest she did by train at a speed of 60mph. If the entire trip took her 5.5 hours, how much time did she spend traveling by train?

Now, I know that time = distance/speed.

I also know that if "x" represents the miles traveled by bus and "y" by train, I could write it: x + y = 300

I do NOT know how to divide up the time to place in a formula.

I got that she took 1.5 hours (60 miles) by bus and 4 hours (240 miles) by train, but without any mathematical methods - I just did some trial-and-error.

Any mathematical method to exact and confirm my answer?

Thank you!

2. Originally Posted by Polyxendi

Wendy took a 300 mile trip. She did part of it by bus at a speed of 40 mph and the rest she did by train at a speed of 60mph. If the entire trip took her 5.5 hours, how much time did she spend traveling by train?

Now, I know that time = distance/speed.

I also know that if "x" represents the miles traveled by bus and "y" by train, I could write it: x + y = 300

I do NOT know how to divide up the time to place in a formula.

I got that she took 1.5 hours (60 miles) by bus and 4 hours (240 miles) by train, but without any mathematical methods - I just did some trial-and-error.

Any mathematical method to exact and confirm my answer?

Thank you!
$x+y=300$
$\frac{x}{40}+\frac{y}{60}=5.5$
Now solve for $x$ and $y$ and the answer is $y/60$ hours