document.write( "Question 414401: The speed of a plane is 120 miles/hour in a calm. With the wind it can cover a certain distance in 4 hours, but against the wind it can cover only 3/5 of that distance in the same time. Find the velocity of the wind. \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Here is what I got. \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let X = velocity of the wind in X miles/1 hour.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Calm:
\n" ); document.write( "v = 120 miles/1 hour\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Downstream:
\n" ); document.write( "X miles in 4 hours, or X miles/4 hours, which is 0.25 X miles in 1 hour\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Upstream:
\n" ); document.write( "3/5 X miles in 4 hours, or 3/20 X miles in 1 hour\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Then,
\n" ); document.write( "time downstream = time upstream\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "distance traveled downstream / (velocity of the plane downstream + velocity of the wind) = distance traveled upstream / (velocity of the plane upstream - velocity of the wind)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "0.25X miles / [{(120+X) miles}/1 hour] = 3/5X miles / [{(120-X) miles}/1 hour]\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "0.25X/(120+X) = 0.6X/(120-X)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "0.25X (120-X) = (120+X)0.6X\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now I am stuck because I am getting X squarred. Please help. Thank you very much. \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Ivana
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #290658 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The speed of a plane is 120 miles/hour in a calm.
\n" ); document.write( " With the wind it can cover a certain distance in 4 hours, but against the wind
\n" ); document.write( " it can cover only 3/5 of that distance in the same time.
\n" ); document.write( " Find the velocity of the wind.
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "I think you are making this more complicated than it is:
\n" ); document.write( "Let x = velocity of the wind
\n" ); document.write( "then
\n" ); document.write( "(120+x) = effective speed with the wind
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "(120+x) = effective speed against the wind
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Change 3/5 to .6
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Write a distance equation; dist = time * speed
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "\"against\" dist = .6 times \"with\" distance
\n" ); document.write( "4(120-x) = .6(4(120+x)
\n" ); document.write( "480 - 4x = .6(480+ 4x)
\n" ); document.write( "480 - 4x = 288 + 2.4x
\n" ); document.write( "480 - 288 = 2.4x + 4x
\n" ); document.write( "192 = 6.4x
\n" ); document.write( "x = \"192%2F6.4\"
\n" ); document.write( "x = 30 mph is velocity of the wind
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Check this by finding the actual distance for each trip
\n" ); document.write( "4(120+30) = 600 mi
\n" ); document.write( "4(120-30) = 360 mi
\n" ); document.write( "Find the fraction that 360/600 = .6 which we would expect if we did this right
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