Homework Help: algebra

Posted by Libuse on Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 8:41pm.

An airplane flying with the wind can cover a certain distance in a = 3 hours. The return trip against the wind takes b = 4.5 hours. How fast is the plane and what is the speed of the wind, if the one-way distance is c = 720 miles?

algebra - Reiny, Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 8:53pm
speed of plane in no wind --- x mph
speed of wind ---- y mph

time with the wind = 720/(x+y) = 3
3x + 3y = 720
x + y = 240

time against the wind = 720/(x-y) = 4
4x - 4y = 720
x-y = 180

add the two simplified equations:
2x = 420
x = 210
back in x+y=240
210 + y = 240
y = 30

the plane has a speed of 210 mph, and the wind was 30 mph
algebra - Libuse, Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 8:57pm
You are smart! Thanks!

Answer this Question

Related Questions

Math - An airplane flying at a speed of about 100 mph was once overtaken and ...
8th Algebra - 1) An airplane took 2 hours to fly 600 km against a head wind. The...
MATH - 1. A boat traveled 210 miles downstream and back. The trip downstream ...
physics - A jetliner can fly 5.57 hours on a full load of fuel. Without any wind...
Algebra - Beth is a bush pilot in Alaska. On a recent trip, she flew 600 miles ...
Algebra 2 - The point of no return for an airplane, flying over water from point...
math - Matt and Anna are frequent fliers on Fast n Go Airplanes. They often fly ...
MATH - Matt and Anna are frequent fliers on Fast n Go Airplanes. They often fly ...
math - I am having trouble with this motion problem.A jet travels 1,890 miles in...
Physics - A jetliner can fly 6.50 hours on a full load of fuel. Without any wind...

For Further Reading

First Name:
School Subject:
Answer: