document.write( "Question 316321: An airplane takes 6 hours to travel a distance of 3960 km against the wind. The return trip takes 5 hours with the wind. What is the rate of the plane in still air and what is the rate of the wind? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #226275 by nyc_function(2741)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I can see that we have a system of linear equations in two variables hidden in this travel application.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let p = speed of plane\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let w = speed of wind\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Objects traveling against the wind tend to slow down a bit and object traveling with the wind move faster. Agree? Try it on your bike on a windy day.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Against the wind:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "time = 6 hours\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "speed = p - w\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "distance = 3960 km\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "With the wind:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "time = 5 hours\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "speed = p + w\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "distance = 3960 km\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "From the tables above, we make the following equations:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "6(p - w) = 3960
\n" ); document.write( "5(p + w) = 3960\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "6p - 6w = 3960...Equation A
\n" ); document.write( "5p + 5w = 3960...Equation B\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Can you take it from here?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "TIP: Use the substitution method to find p and w.\r
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