SOLUTION: the jet stream is a strong wind current that flows across the united states. Flying with the jet stream, a plane flew 3000 miles in 5 hours. Against the same wind, the trip took

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Question 274124: the jet stream is a strong wind current that flows across the united states. Flying with the jet stream, a plane flew 3000 miles in 5 hours. Against the same wind, the trip took 6 hours. Find the speed of the plane in still air and the speed of the wind
Answer by fractalier(6550) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let r be the rate of the plane in still air.
Let w be the rate of the wind.
R is the overall rate and we know that
Rate times time equals distance.
so
5(r+w) = 3000 and
6(r-w) = 3000
solving this system we get
r + w = 600 and
r - w = 500
so that
2r = 1100
r = 550
and thus
w = 50