SOLUTION: If a plane can travel 500 miles per hour with the wind and 420 miles per hour against the wind, what is the speed of the plane in still air?

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Question 741947: If a plane can travel 500 miles per hour with the wind and 420 miles per hour against the wind, what is the speed of the plane in still air?
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If a plane can travel 500 miles per hour with the wind and 420 miles per hour against the wind, what is the speed of the plane in still air?
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Equations:
p + w = 500 mph
p - w = 420 mph
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Add and solve for "p":
2p = 920
plane speed = 460 mph
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Solve for "w":
p + w = 500
460 + w = 500
wind speed = 40 mph
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Cheers,
Stan H.