SOLUTION: An airplane travels 600 miles against the wind in 3.5 hours and makes the return trip (with the wind) in 2.5 hours. Find the rate of the wind

Question 226232: An airplane travels 600 miles against the wind in 3.5 hours and makes the return trip (with the wind) in 2.5 hours. Find the rate of the wind
Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let = rate of airplane
Let = rate of wind
= rate flying with the wind
= rate flying against the wind
given:
hrs with the wind
hrs against the wind
mi
---------------
I can now write equations

This is 2 equations and 2 unknowns, so it's solvable

Multiply both equations by

Divide both equations by

Multiply the 1st equation by and
the 2nd equation by

Add the equations

and, since

The wind speed is 34.29 mi/hr
check:

close enough
and

close enough

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