SOLUTION: With a wind behind it, Glenn's pigeon flies 72 miles from Santa Rosa to Cloverdale in 6 hours. The return trip takes 8 hours because the pigeon flies into the wind. If the wind spe

Question 738780: With a wind behind it, Glenn's pigeon flies 72 miles from Santa Rosa to Cloverdale in 6 hours. The return trip takes 8 hours because the pigeon flies into the wind. If the wind speed is the same on each trip, find the speed of the pigeon in still air and find the wind speed.
I know how to solve a system of equations, but i dont know how to set this word problem up, please help.
Answer by rothauserc(4718) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
we use rate * time = distance and we have the two equations
6*rate = 72 and
8*rate = 72
so the two rates are 12 mph with the wind and 9 mph against the wind
this tells us that the wind is 3 mph
now in the formula 6*12=72, the wind contributes 3*6=18 miles
subtract 18 from 72 and we get 54 and
we now have 6 * r = 54 or the rate of the pigeon in still air is 9 mph
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