SOLUTION: two planes leave an airport flying at the same rate. If the first plane flies 1.5 hours longer than the the second plane and travels 2700 miles while the second plane travels only

Algebra.Com
Question 1127986: two planes leave an airport flying at the same rate. If the first plane flies 1.5 hours longer than the the second plane and travels 2700 miles while the second plane travels only 2025 miles, for how long was each plane flying?

Answer by ikleyn(52799)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
From the condition, you have these two equations


v*(t+1.5) = 2700     (1)   ("the first plane flies 1.5 hours longer than the the second plane and travels 2700 miles")

v*t       = 2025     (2)   ("the second travels 2025 miles at the same rate")


where v is their common rate and t is flying time for the second plane.



Divide equation (1) by equation (2) (both sides.  You will get


 =  = 

3*(t+1.5) = 4t

3t + 4.5 = 4t

t = 4.5 hours.


Answer.  The second plane was flying for 4.5 hours;  the first plane was flying for  4.5 + 1.5 = 6 hours.

Solved.

-------------------

This solution can be presented in wording form, with minimal use of equations.

     The ratio of distances is   = ;  hence, the ratio of times is  , too 
     (since the rate is the same for both planes).


    Hence, first plane traveled 4x hours, while the second plane traveled 3x hours.


    We are given that  4x - 3x  is  1.5 hours;  hence  x = 1.5 hours.

    Then the first plane was flying  4*1.5= 6 hours, while the second plane was flying 3*1.5 = 4.5 hours.


    You got the same answer.

Solved for the second time.



RELATED QUESTIONS

Two airplanes leave an airport at the same time and travel in opposite directions. One... (answered by josmiceli)
Two airplanes leave an airport at the same time and travel in opposite directions. One... (answered by josgarithmetic)
two planes leave an airport at the same time one flying east, the other flying west. The... (answered by prateekagrawal)
Two planes leave the airport at the same time. The first plane flies 20 miles west.... (answered by josmiceli)
Two planes left the same airport at the same time traveling in opposite directions. The... (answered by Boreal)
Two planes leave Dallas Airport at the same time, one flying east at a speed of 550 mph... (answered by checkley77)
There are two airplanes: plane A and plane B. They travel in opposite directions and they (answered by ewatrrr,scrapper1880)
Two airplanes leave an airport at the same time and travel in opposite directions. One... (answered by josgarithmetic,greenestamps)
Two airplanes leave the same airport at the same time. The first plane flies 170 km/h in... (answered by Alan3354)