SOLUTION: two planes leave an airport at the same time one flying east, the other flying west. The eastbound plane travels 100mph slower. They are 2880 miles apart after 4 hours. Find the sp

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: two planes leave an airport at the same time one flying east, the other flying west. The eastbound plane travels 100mph slower. They are 2880 miles apart after 4 hours. Find the sp      Log On


   

Question 624812: two planes leave an airport at the same time one flying east, the other flying west. The eastbound plane travels 100mph slower. They are 2880 miles apart after 4 hours. Find the speed of each plane.
Answer by prateekagrawal(56) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let the speed of westbound plane is x then that of eastbound will be x - 100.
Hence
4(x+x-100) = 2880
2x-100 = 2880/4 = 720
2x = 820
x= 410.
Hence
speed of eastbound = 310
speed of westbound = 410.