SOLUTION: A bird flew 12 miles in an hour aided by a tailwind. Then it turned and flew back against the wind but was unable to fly only 4 miles per hour. What was the speed of the wind? How

Question 591501: A bird flew 12 miles in an hour aided by a tailwind. Then it turned and flew back against the wind but was unable to fly only 4 miles per hour. What was the speed of the wind? How fast would the bird have flown if there had been no wind?
Found 2 solutions by stanbon, josmiceli:
Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A bird flew 12 miles in an hour aided by a tailwind. Then it turned and flew back against the wind but was unable to fly only 4 miles per hour. What was the speed of the wind? How fast would the bird have flown if there had been no wind?
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With-wind DATA:
distance = 12 miles ; time = 1 hr ; rate = d/t = 12/1 = 12 mph
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Against-wind DATA:
distance = 12 miles : rate = 4 mph
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Let "b" be speed of the bird in still air.
Let "w" be speed of the wind.
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Equation:
b + w = 12 mph
b - w = 4 mph
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Add and solve for "b":
2b = 16
b = 8 mph (speed of the bird in still air)
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Cheers,
stan H.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let = the bird's speed with no wind
= bird's speed going with the wind
= bird's speed going against the wind
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going with the wind:

going against the wind:

By substitution:

and

The speed of the wind is 4 mi/hr
The speed of the bird with no wind is 8 mi/hr
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