SOLUTION: Can someone help with this word problem? Two planes, which are 2940 miles apart, fly toward each other. Their speeds differ by 35mph. If they pass each other in 4 hours, wh

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Question 1041988: Can someone help with this word problem?

Two planes, which are 2940 miles apart, fly toward each other. Their speeds differ by 35mph.
If they pass each other in 4 hours, what is the speed of each?
Found 3 solutions by rothauserc, josgarithmetic, josmiceli:
Answer by rothauserc(4718)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x be the rate of 1 plane, then the other plane's rate is x+35
:
We have the following formula
:
4x+ 4(x+35) = 2940
:
4x + 4x+140 = 2940
:
8x = 2800
:
x = 350
:
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The rates for the planes are 350 mph and 385 mph
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:

Answer by josgarithmetic(39620)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
RT=D Travel Rates Rule

ASSIGN VARIABLE VALUES r rate plane B k 35 mph h 4 hours d 2940 distance to consume RATE TIME DISTANCE PLANE A r+k x (r+k)x PLANE B r y ry TOTAL h d

Form the system of equation in the unknown variable times, x and y, and solve.

Answer by josmiceli(19441)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You can think of this as one of the planes
standing still and the other one covering
the 2940 miles at the sum of their speeds
---------------------------------
Let = the speed of the slower plane in mi/hr
= the speed of the faster plane in mi/hr
= their flying time in hrs until they meet
--------------------------------------------

and

Their speeds are 385 mi/hr and 350 mi/hr
---------------------------------------
check:

mi
and

mi
---------------------

( correct distance )
OK