SOLUTION: An airplane takes 3 hours to travel a distance of 2160 miles with the wind. The return trip takes 4 hours against the wind. Find the speed of the plane in still air and the speed o

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Travel -> SOLUTION: An airplane takes 3 hours to travel a distance of 2160 miles with the wind. The return trip takes 4 hours against the wind. Find the speed of the plane in still air and the speed o      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


   



Question 347767: An airplane takes 3 hours to travel a distance of 2160 miles with the wind. The return trip takes 4 hours against the wind. Find the speed of the plane in still air and the speed of the wind.
Answer by mananth(16946) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let speed of plane be xmph
speed of wind = y mph
..
time = distance /speed
speed upwind = x-y
speed downwind = x+y
time = 2160/x+y=3
x+y = 2160/3
x+y=720........................1
upwind
time = 2160/x-y = 4
2160/4 = x-y
340 = x-y......................2
add equation 1 & 2
2x= 1060
x= 530 mph
.....
x+y=720
530+y=720
y=720-530
y= 90 mph