SOLUTION: Two planes which are 2475 miles apart fly toward each other. Their speeds differ by 75 mph. If they pass each other in 3 hours, what is the speed of each?

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Question 634468: Two planes which are 2475 miles apart fly toward each other. Their speeds differ by 75 mph. If they pass each other in 3 hours, what is the speed of each?
Found 2 solutions by radh, graphmatics:
Answer by radh(108) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Okay, let's dissect this into an equation.

Two planes which are 2475 miles apart fly towards each other. x%2By=2475

Their speeds differ by 75 mph. x%2B75%2Bx=2475

If they pass each other in 3 hours, what is the speed of each. %28x%2B75%2Bx%29%2F3=2475

Now, we just simplify using PEMDAS.

%282x%2B75%29%2F3=2475

2x%2B75=825

2x=750

x=375

Now, we just add 75mph to one of the planes, making one plane go at 450mph and the other at 375mph.

Hope this helps!


Answer by graphmatics(170) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let d be the distance the fastest plane travels. Let s be the speed of the fastest.
d%2Fs=3
%282475-d%29%2F%28s-75%29=3
d=3%2As
%282475-3%2As%29%2F%28s-75%29=3
2475-3%2As=3%2A%28s-75%29
-6%2As=-2475-225
s=2700%2F6=450
So the faster plane travels at 450 mph and the other plane travels at 375 mph.