SOLUTION: A light plane flew from its home base to an airport 255 miles away. With a headwind, the trip took 1.7 hours. The return trip with tailwind took 1.5 hours. Fine the average airspee

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Lessons -> SOLUTION: A light plane flew from its home base to an airport 255 miles away. With a headwind, the trip took 1.7 hours. The return trip with tailwind took 1.5 hours. Fine the average airspee      Log On


   

Question 119179: A light plane flew from its home base to an airport 255 miles away. With a headwind, the trip took 1.7 hours. The return trip with tailwind took 1.5 hours. Fine the average airspeed of the plane and the average wind speed.
Answer by checkley71(8403) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
255/1.7=150 MPH FOR THE SPEED WITH A HEAD WIND.
255/1.5=170 MPH FOR THE TRIP WITH THE WIND.
THE DIFFERENCE IN SPEEDS DIVIDED BY 2 GIVES US THE WIND SPEED.
(170-150)/2=20/2=10 MPH FOR THE WIND SPEED.
170-10=160 FOR THE PLANE SPEED.
150+10=160