document.write( "Question 591501: A bird flew 12 miles in an hour aided by a tailwind. Then it turned and flew back against the wind but was unable to fly only 4 miles per hour. What was the speed of the wind? How fast would the bird have flown if there had been no wind? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #375642 by stanbon(75887) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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A bird flew 12 miles in an hour aided by a tailwind. Then it turned and flew back against the wind but was unable to fly only 4 miles per hour. What was the speed of the wind? How fast would the bird have flown if there had been no wind?
\n" ); document.write( "------
\n" ); document.write( "With-wind DATA:
\n" ); document.write( "distance = 12 miles ; time = 1 hr ; rate = d/t = 12/1 = 12 mph
\n" ); document.write( "-----------------------
\n" ); document.write( "Against-wind DATA:
\n" ); document.write( "distance = 12 miles : rate = 4 mph
\n" ); document.write( "----
\n" ); document.write( "Let \"b\" be speed of the bird in still air.
\n" ); document.write( "Let \"w\" be speed of the wind.
\n" ); document.write( "----
\n" ); document.write( "Equation:
\n" ); document.write( "b + w = 12 mph
\n" ); document.write( "b - w = 4 mph
\n" ); document.write( "-----
\n" ); document.write( "Add and solve for \"b\":
\n" ); document.write( "2b = 16
\n" ); document.write( "b = 8 mph (speed of the bird in still air)
\n" ); document.write( "====================================
\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "stan H. \n" ); document.write( "

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