document.write( "Question 298137: a plane traveling 450 miles per hour can go 1000 miles with the wind in 1/2 hour less than when traveling against the wind. Find the speed of the wind. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #214618 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! a plane traveling 450 miles per hour can go 1000 miles with the wind in 1/2 hour \n" ); document.write( " less than when traveling against the wind. \n" ); document.write( "Find the speed of the wind. \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Let w = speed of the wind \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Plane effective ground speed: \n" ); document.write( "(450+w) = with the wind \n" ); document.write( "(450-w) = against the wind \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Write a time equation, time = dist/speed: \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Time against - time with = .5 hr \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Multiply by (450+w)(45-w), resulting in \n" ); document.write( "1000(450+w) - 1000(450-w) = .5 \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "450000 + 1000w - 450000+ 1000w = .5(450-w)(450+w) \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "2000w = .5(202500 - w^2) \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "2000w = 101250 - .5w^2 \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Arrange as a quadratic equation on the left \n" ); document.write( ".5w^2 + 2000w - 101250 = 0 \n" ); document.write( "multiply by 1 \n" ); document.write( "w^2 + 4000w - 202500 = 0 \n" ); document.write( "Factor this to \n" ); document.write( "(w+4050)(w-50) = 0 \n" ); document.write( "positive solution \n" ); document.write( "w = 50 mph is the wind \n" ); document.write( "; \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Check solution by finding the times \n" ); document.write( "1000/400 = 2.5 \n" ); document.write( "1000/500 = 2.0 \n" ); document.write( "-------------- \n" ); document.write( "differs by: .5 hr \n" ); document.write( " |