document.write( "Question 1197567: An airplane averages 150 mph. If a trip from Atlanta to Charleston takes 2 hours 48 minutes going against the wind, and 2 hours on on the return flight going with the wind, what is the speed of the wind \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #830874 by math_tutor2020(3817)\"\" \"About 
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\n" ); document.write( "w = speed of the wind in mph\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "2 hrs + 48 min = 2 hrs + (48/60) hrs
\n" ); document.write( "2 hrs + 48 min = 2 hrs + 0.8 hrs
\n" ); document.write( "2 hrs + 48 min = 2.8 hrs\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "150-w = speed of the plane going against the wind
\n" ); document.write( "distance = rate*time
\n" ); document.write( "distance = (150-w)*2.8
\n" ); document.write( "distance = 420-2.8w\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "150+w = speed of the plane going with the wind
\n" ); document.write( "distance = rate*time
\n" ); document.write( "distance = (150+w)*2
\n" ); document.write( "distance = 300+2w\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The distance is same each time because the plane is following the same route, when going from Atlanta to Charleston then back from Charleston to Atlanta.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Because the distance is the same for each equation, we can equate the right hand sides and solve for w.
\n" ); document.write( "420-2.8w = 300+2w
\n" ); document.write( "420-300 = 2w+2.8w
\n" ); document.write( "120 = 4.8w
\n" ); document.write( "w = 120/4.8
\n" ); document.write( "w = 25
\n" ); document.write( "The speed of the wind is 25 mph\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Check:
\n" ); document.write( "If the plane goes against the wind, then its speed is 150-w = 150-25 = 125 mph.
\n" ); document.write( "Traveling for 2.8 hours means it covers a distance of 125*2.8 = 350 miles
\n" ); document.write( "If the plane goes with the wind, then its speed is 150+w = 150+25 = 175 mph.
\n" ); document.write( "Traveling for 2 hours gives a distance of 175*2 = 350 miles.
\n" ); document.write( "We get the same distance each time to help confirm the answer.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Answer: 25 mph
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