SOLUTION: two small planes start from the same point and fly in opposite directions. the first plane is flying 25 mph than the 2nd plane. In 2h, the planes are 510 mi apart. find the rate o

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Question 834056: two small planes start from the same point and fly in opposite directions. the first plane is flying 25 mph than the 2nd plane. In 2h, the planes are 510 mi apart. find the rate of the faster plane
Answer by josgarithmetic(39620) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
What you mean is the difference in speed between the two planes was 25 mph. Easily handled. You must mean "2 hours" for "2h".

Slow plane is speed r.

______________speed____________time____________distance
Slow__________r________________2_______________r*2
Fast_________r+25______________2_______________(r+25)*2
Total__________________________________________510



Or did you want to do like this, letting r be the speed of the fast plane:

______________speed____________time____________distance
Fast__________r________________2_______________r*2
Slow_________r-25______________2_______________(r-25)*2
Total__________________________________________510

Choose which way you like best. Do you see what to do next? You will make an equation for the total distance, which comes from the use of "total" and the column for "distance".