document.write( "Question 870939: -
\n" ); document.write( "I am confused how to work this problem.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "An airplane can fly downwind a distance of 800 miles in 1.6 hours. The return trip against the same wind takes 2 hours. Find the speed of the wind.
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Algebra.Com's Answer #525237 by josmiceli(19441)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let \"+s+\" = the speed of the plane in still air
\n" ); document.write( "Let \"+w+\" = the speed of the wind
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\n" ); document.write( "Flying down wind:
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"+800+=+%28+s+%2B+w+%29%2A1.6+\"
\n" ); document.write( "Flying upwind:
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+800+=+%28+s+-+w+%29%2A2+\"
\n" ); document.write( "-----------------------
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"+1.6s+%2B+1.6w+=+800+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"+16s+%2B+16w+=+8000+\"
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+2s+-+2w+=+800+\"
\n" ); document.write( "-----------------------
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply both sides of (2) by \"+8+\"
\n" ); document.write( "and subtract (2) from (1)
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"+16s+%2B+16w+=+8000+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+-16s+%2B+16w+=+-6400+\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"+32w+=+1600+\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"+w+=+50+\"
\n" ); document.write( "The windspeed is 50 mi/hr
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\n" ); document.write( "check:
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+800+=+%28+s+-+w+%29%2A2+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+800+=+%28+s+-+50+%29%2A2+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+800+=+2s+-+100+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+2s+=+900+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+s+=+450+\"
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"+800+=+%28+s+%2B+w+%29%2A1.6+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"+800+=+%28+450+%2B+50+%29%2A1.6+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"+800+=+500%2A1.6+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"+800+=+800+\"
\n" ); document.write( "OK\r
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