document.write( "Question 727828: How do you find the speed of the plane is still weather? \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "As in \"A jet plane flies 5 hours west with a 60 MPH headwind. The plane returns east with a tailwind and the round trip took 9 hours of flying\" \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #445236 by KMST(5328) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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The plane moves at a certain speed $\"x\"$ (in mph) relative to the air.
\n" ); document.write( "That is the speed of the plane in still air.
\n" ); document.write( "When the plane flies into a 60 mph headwind, its speed relative to the ground is
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x-60\"$ .
\n" ); document.write( "In 5 hours covers a distance of $\"5%28x-60%29\"$ miles.
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "When the plane flies with a 60 mph tailwind, its speed relative to the ground is
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x%2B60\"$ .
\n" ); document.write( "The return trip lasts 4 hours (9 hours total time - 5 hours = 4 hours).
\n" ); document.write( "During the 4-hour return trip the plane covers $\"4%28x%2B60%29\"$ miles.
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "Since the distance going West and the distance returning are the same,
\n" ); document.write( " $\"5%28x-60%29=4%28x%2B60%29\"$
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "We must find $\"x\"$ :
\n" ); document.write( " $\"5%28x-60%29=4%28x%2B60%29\"$ --> $\"5x-300=4x%2B240%29\"$ --> $\"5x-300-4x%2B300=4x%2B240-4x%2B300%29\"$ --> $\"5x-4x=240%2B300%29\"$ --> $\"highlight%28x=740%29\"$ \n" ); document.write( "

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