document.write( "Question 231857: An airplane travels 400 miles against the wind in 5 hours, and makes the return trip with the same wind in 2hours. Find the speed of the wind. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #171489 by stanbon(75887)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! An airplane travels 400 miles against the wind in 5 hours, and makes the return trip with the same wind in 2hours. Find the speed of the wind. \n" ); document.write( "------------------------- \n" ); document.write( "Against the wind DATA: \n" ); document.write( "distance = 400 miles ; time = 5 hrs ; rate = 400/5 = 80 mph \n" ); document.write( "-------------------------------------------------------------- \n" ); document.write( "With the wind DATA: \n" ); document.write( "distance = 400 miles ; time = 2 hrs ; rate = 400/2 = 200 mph \n" ); document.write( "---------------------------------------------------------------- \n" ); document.write( "Equations: \n" ); document.write( "Let \"p\" be speed of the plane in still air \n" ); document.write( "Let \"w\" be speed of the wind \n" ); document.write( "--------------------------------- \n" ); document.write( "p + w = 200 \n" ); document.write( "P - w = 80 \n" ); document.write( "--------------------------------- \n" ); document.write( "Add the two equations to solve for \"p\": \n" ); document.write( "2p = 280 \n" ); document.write( "p = 140 mph (speed of the plane in still air) \n" ); document.write( "---Substitute into P+w = 200 to solve for \"w\" \n" ); document.write( "140 + w = 200 \n" ); document.write( "w = 60 mph (speed of the wind) \n" ); document.write( "====================================== \n" ); document.write( "Cheers, \n" ); document.write( "Stan H. \n" ); document.write( " |