SOLUTION: Ryan flew 480 miles with a 30 mi/hr tailwind in the same time it took to fly 240 miles against the same wind. What is the speed of the plane in still air?

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Question 1199673: Ryan flew 480 miles with a 30 mi/hr tailwind in the same time it took to fly 240 miles against the same wind. What is the speed of the plane in still air?
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, greenestamps:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39615) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
"Same time" each direction

TIME, distance divided by speed

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Answer by greenestamps(13198) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

The setup shown by the other tutor is a good one, which many students will find easy to use.

An alternative setup, which I personally prefer, is to say that since the times are the same the ratio of speeds and the ratio of distances are the same. So

Both setups lead immediately to the same equation to be solved, so students can use whichever one "works" best for them.