Two cars are 273 mi apart and traveling towards each other on the same road. THey meet in 3 hr. One car is traveling 7 mph faster than the other. What is the speed of each car?

a + b = 273 / 3 mph = 91 mph

a - b = 7 mph

adding equations (eliminating b)
... 2 a = 98 mph

speed of slower car --- x mph

speed of faster car ---- x+7 mph

distance of slower car = 3x
distance of faster car = 3(x+7)

3x + 3(x+7) = 273

carry on ...

To find the speed of each car, let's assume that the slower car's speed is "x" mph. Since the other car is traveling 7 mph faster, its speed would be "x + 7" mph.

When two objects are moving towards each other, their total distance covered is equal to the sum of their individual distances.

Given that the two cars are 273 miles apart and meet in 3 hours, we can set up the following equation:

Distance covered by the slower car + Distance covered by the faster car = Total distance

Using the formula Distance = Speed × Time, we can write the equation as:

3x + 3(x + 7) = 273

Simplifying the equation, we get:

3x + 3x + 21 = 273
6x + 21 = 273
6x = 252

Dividing both sides by 6:

x = 42

So, the speed of the slower car is 42 mph. Since the faster car is traveling 7 mph faster, its speed would be:

42 + 7 = 49 mph

Therefore, the slower car is traveling at 42 mph and the faster car is traveling at 49 mph.