SOLUTION: An airplane flew with the wind for 5 hours. The return trip against the wind took 6 hours. If the wind was blowing at 25mph. What was the rate of the plane in still the air?

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Question 227725: An airplane flew with the wind for 5 hours. The return trip against the wind took 6 hours. If the wind was blowing at 25mph. What was the rate of the plane in still the air?
Answer by drj(1380) About Me  (Show Source):
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An airplane flew with the wind for 5 hours. The return trip against the wind took 6 hours. If the wind was blowing at 25mph. What was the rate of the plane in still the air?

Step 1. distance= speed * time

Step 2. Let x+25 be the airplane speed with the wind.

Step 3. Let x-25 be the airplane speed against the wind.

Step 4. Let 5(x+25) be the distance traveled with the wind after 5 hours.

Step 5. Let 6(x-25) be the distance traveled again the wind after 6 hours.

Step 6. Equate Steps 4 and 5 since the distances are the same.

5%28x%2B25%29=6%28x-25%29

5x%2B125=6x-150

Add 150-5x to both sides of the equation

5x%2B125%2B150-5x=6x-5x

275=x

Check if distances are equal: (275+25)5=(275-25)6 which is a true statement.

Step 7. ANSWER: The speed of the plane is 275 miles per hour.

I hope the above steps were helpful.

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And good luck in your studies!

Respectfully,
Dr J
http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV