• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

101 Words

101 Word Short Stories

  • Flash Fiction Daily
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Volunteer

Algebra

July 28, 2022 8 Comments

Share4
Tweet
Email
More
4 Shares

Two trains started 1,200 miles apart.

One train headed north at an average speed of ninety-nine miles per hour. She was on that train.

At precisely the same time, the other train headed south at an average speed of 125 miles per hour. He was on that train.

Which train will arrive first?

The pair had done very well in algebra years before earning the same degree from different schools in different states using different textbooks. A simple math problem for both.

Unfortunately, the two trains were on the same track.

Neither, despite such skills, solved the exact moment of impact.

By David Sydney

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alan Wahnefried says

    July 28, 2022 at 10:37 am

    A practical use of algebra

    Reply
    • David Sydney says

      July 28, 2022 at 7:09 pm

      Thank you for your comment. A practical use of algebra…but an unfortunate use of the rails.

      Reply
  2. Jim Gunshinan says

    July 28, 2022 at 12:46 pm

    This piece builds momentum (Mass X Velocity) up until the end.

    Reply
    • David Sydney says

      July 28, 2022 at 7:12 pm

      Thank you for your comment. I suppose momentum sometimes builds…until coming to a crashing halt.

      Reply
  3. Wendy says

    July 29, 2022 at 12:44 pm

    Great to get a twist at the end. No happy ending for these two. I enjoyed your story

    Reply
    • David Sydney says

      July 29, 2022 at 4:44 pm

      Thank you for your kind words

      Reply
  4. Gary Earl Ross says

    August 3, 2022 at 11:08 am

    Very impressive!

    Reply
  5. Lon Richardson says

    August 3, 2022 at 11:31 am

    …approximately 5.357 hours

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search Stories

The end.