SOLUTION: An airplane flying with the wind can cover 600 miles in two hours. The return trip against the wind takes two and one-half hours. What is the speed of the plane in still air?

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Question 312343: An airplane flying with the wind can cover 600 miles in two hours. The return trip against the wind takes two and one-half hours. What is the speed of the plane in still air?
Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Rate*Time=Distance
W-wind speed
P-plane speed
.
.
.
1.%28P%2BW%292=600
2.%28P-W%292.5=600
From eq. 1,
P%2BW=300
From eq. 2,
P-W=240
Add them to eliminate W,
P%2BW%2BP-W=300%2B240
2P=540
highlight_green%28+P=270%29
Then from eq. 1,
P%2BW=300
270%2BW=300
highlight_green%28W=30%29
The speed of the plane in still air is 270 mph.