SOLUTION: A small aircraft flies a 2160-mi round trip in a 45 mi/h wind. Find the average rate of speed for the trip if the aircraft can fly 225 mi/h with no wind. I was just confused

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Travel -> SOLUTION: A small aircraft flies a 2160-mi round trip in a 45 mi/h wind. Find the average rate of speed for the trip if the aircraft can fly 225 mi/h with no wind. I was just confused       Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 61204: A small aircraft flies a 2160-mi round trip in a 45 mi/h wind. Find the average rate of speed for the trip if the aircraft can fly 225 mi/h with no wind.
I was just confused because, to me, this problem doesnt seem like it has enough information to put in a R | T | D box. Thanks for your help.
Answer by checkley71(8403) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
BECAUSE IT IS A ROUND TRIP THE AVERAGE FLIGHT TIME WITH THE WIND IS
(225+45) & against the wind the speed is (225-45).
now the first 1/2 of the trip is 1080 miles we get
(225+45)t=1080
270T=1080
T=1080/270
T=4 HOURS FOR THE FIRST 1/2 OF THE TRIP
(225-45)T=1080
180T=1080
T=1080/180
T=6 HOURS FOR THE SECOND 1/2 OF THE TRIP.
TOTALTIME IS 4+6=10HOURS
TOTAL DISTANCE IS 2160 AND THE TIME IS 10 HOURS THEN
2160=10R
R=2160/10
R=216 MPH IS THE AVERAGE SPEED FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP.