A plane climbs into the jet stream which is flowing at a rate of 80 miles per hour. It travels with the jet stream for 5 hours and then reduces its altitude, flying out of the jet stream for 4 more hours. The plane, while out of the jet stream, covered 550 miles less than it did during the 5 hours it was in the jet stream. How fast was the plane flying out of the jet stream?
To solve this problem, let's break it down into smaller steps:
Step 1: Find the distance traveled by the plane while in the jet stream.
We know that the jet stream is flowing at a rate of 80 miles per hour, and the plane flew with the jet stream for 5 hours. So, the distance traveled by the plane in the jet stream is 80 miles/hour * 5 hours = 400 miles.
Step 2: Find the distance traveled by the plane while out of the jet stream.
We are given that while out of the jet stream, the plane covered 550 miles less than it did during the 5 hours it was in the jet stream. Therefore, the distance traveled by the plane while out of the jet stream is 400 miles - 550 miles = -150 miles.
Step 3: Determine the time the plane spent flying out of the jet stream.
We are told that the plane flew out of the jet stream for 4 more hours than it did in the jet stream. Therefore, the time spent flying out of the jet stream is 5 hours + 4 hours = 9 hours.
Step 4: Calculate the speed of the plane flying out of the jet stream.
To find the speed, we divide the distance by the time flown. So, the speed of the plane flying out of the jet stream is -150 miles / 9 hours = -16.67 miles per hour.
Since negative speed doesn't make sense in this context, we can assume that the plane was not flying out of the jet stream and the distance given while out of the jet stream might be incorrect or inconsistent with the problem.