SOLUTION: a plane flies 600 miles and makes the return trip. the jet stream on the plane in 16m/hour. the round trip takes 9 hours. what is the speed of the plane?

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Question 833318: a plane flies 600 miles and makes the return trip. the jet stream on the plane in 16m/hour. the round trip takes 9 hours. what is the speed of the plane?
Answer by josgarithmetic(39618) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
_________________speed_____________time_______________distance
upstream_________r-c_______________x__________________d
downstream_______r+c_______________y__________________d
total______________________________h

The table uses only variables, but some of the values are these:
d=600 miles
h=9 hours
c=16 miles per hour, the jet stream speed

x and y are variables, BUT THEY CAN BE HANDLED ACCORDING to r*t=d, t=d/r, so applying this,

_________________speed_____________time_______________distance
upstream_________r-c_______________d/(r-c)__________________d
downstream_______r+c_______________d/(r+c)__________________d
total______________________________h

NOW we can make one equation in one unknown variable.
highlight%28highlight_green%28d%2F%28r-c%29%2Bd%2F%28r%2Bc%29=h%29%29
Solve for r; this will be a formula for r all in symbolic form.
Substitute the given values; and then compute r.