SOLUTION: An airplane flies from Houston to Denver with a tailwind that increases its normal speed by 60 mph. On the return trip, the plan must fly against this wind, which decreases its nor
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Question 1169445: An airplane flies from Houston to Denver with a tailwind that increases its normal speed by 60 mph. On the return trip, the plan must fly against this wind, which decreases its normal speed by the same amount. The flight from Houston takes 2.4 hours and the return trip takes 2.76 hours. How far is it from Houston to Denver? Answer by ikleyn(52756) (Show Source):
Let u be the speed of the plane at no wind.
Then the effective speed with the wind is (u+60) mph; against the wind (u-60) mph.
The total distance is the same in both directions, therefore
2.4*(u+60) = 2.76*(u-60).
From this equation u = = 860 mph.
So, the airplane speed at no wind is 860 mph.
Hence, the effective speed with the wind is 860+60 = 920 mph
and the distance is 2.4*920 = 2208 miles. ANSWER
Solved.
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Notice that the Internet gives another distance between two cities (about 1000 miles).
My solution HAS NO errors - it is correct.
It means that the input data is not consistent with reality --- or the airplane flies along very curved path.
