SOLUTION: A plane traveled 2610 miles with the wind in 4.5 hours and 1980 miles against the wind in the same amount of time. Find the speed of the plane in still air and the speed of the win

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Question 1104980: A plane traveled 2610 miles with the wind in 4.5 hours and 1980 miles against the wind in the same amount of time. Find the speed of the plane in still air and the speed of the wind.
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A plane traveled 2610 miles with the wind in 4.5 hours and 1980 miles against the wind in the same amount of time. Find the speed of the plane in still air and the speed of the wind.
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With-wind DATA:
dist = 2610 miles ; time = 4.5 hrs ; rate = 2610/4.5 = 580 mph
Against-wind DATA:
dist = 1980 miles ; time = 4.5 hrs ; rate = 440 mph
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Equation:
p + w = 580
p - w = 440
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Add the two equations to get:
2p = 1020
plane = 510 mph (rate in still air)
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Subtract one equation from the other to get:
2w = 140 mph
w = 70 mph (rate of wind)
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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