SOLUTION: An airplane flew for 4.23 hours with a 25.5-km/h tail wind. The return flight against the same wind took 4.97 hours. Find the speed of the plane in still air.

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Question 188368This question is from textbook Prentice Hall: Algebra 1: California edition
: An airplane flew for 4.23 hours with a 25.5-km/h tail wind. The return flight against the same wind took 4.97 hours. Find the speed of the plane in still air. This question is from textbook Prentice Hall: Algebra 1: California edition

Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
An airplane flew for 4.23 hours with a 25.5-km/h tail wind.
The return flight against the same wind took 4.97 hours.
Find the speed of the plane in still air.
:
Let s = speed of the plane in still air
then
(s+25.5) = ground speed with the wind
and
(s-25.5) = ground speed against the wind
:
The distance there and back is equal, write a dist equation; Dist = time * speed
:
4.23(s+25.5) = 4.97(s-25.5)
4.23s + 107.865 = 4.97s - 126.735
107.865 + 126.735 = 4.97s - 4.23s
234.6 = .74s
s = 234.6%2F.74
s = 317.03 km/hr speed in still air
;
;
Check solution by finding the distances:
4.23(317.03+25.5) = 4.97(317.03-25.5)
4.23(342.53) = 4.97(291.53)
1448.9 = 1448.9