Solution: The speed of old freight train is 0.5 miles per minute and the speed of new dart express train is 1.5 miles per minute.
Explanation:
Let the speed of old freight train is x miles per minute and the speed of new dart express train is y miles per minute.
It is given that the speed of the dart express train is three times faster than the freight train. So, it can be written as,
[tex]3x=y[/tex] ....(1)
The trains are moving towards the opposite directions, therefore the distance between them is increased at the speed of [tex](x+y)[/tex] miles per minute.
[tex]Distance=Speed\times Time[/tex]
The distance between both train in 15 minutes is represented by [tex]15(x+y)[/tex].
According to the given information the distance between trains is 30 miles in 15 minutes.
[tex]15(x+y)=30[/tex]
[tex]x+y=2[/tex]
Use equation (1) and put [tex]y=3x[/tex]
[tex]x+3x=2[/tex]
[tex]4x=2[/tex]
[tex]x=0.5[/tex]
Put this value in equation (1), to find the value of y.
[tex]y=3(0.5)[/tex]
[tex]y=1.5[/tex]
Therefore, the The speed of old freight train is 0.5 miles per minute and the speed of new dart express train is 1.5 miles per minute.