SOLUTION: A plane flying with the wind went 350 miles in 2 hours. The return trip, flying against the wind, took 2.8 hours. Find the rate of the plane in calm air and the rate of the wind.
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Question 511445: A plane flying with the wind went 350 miles in 2 hours. The return trip, flying against the wind, took 2.8 hours. Find the rate of the plane in calm air and the rate of the wind.
You can put this solution on YOUR website! d = rt is the distance equation.
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a = aircraft speed
w = wind speed
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Flying with the wind, the ground speed = a+w
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(a+w) * 2 = 350
a + w = 175
a = 175-w
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Flying against the wind, the ground speed = a-w
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(a-w) * 2.8 = 350
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substitute a = (175-w)
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(175-w -w) * 2.8 = 350
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175 -2w = 125
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-2w = -50
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w = 25 = wind speed
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substitute
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a + w = 175
a + 25 = 175
a = 150 = aircraft speed
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Check the answer.
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(150-25)*x = 350
125x = 350
x = 2.8
Correct.
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Answer: The aircraft flies 150 mph and the wind is 25 mph.
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