SOLUTION: Please help me solve this system of equation word problem, An airplane travels 900 miles from Housten to Miami in 6 hours against the wind. On it's return trip, with the wind, i

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Question 837279: Please help me solve this system of equation word problem,
An airplane travels 900 miles from Housten to Miami in 6 hours against the wind. On it's return trip, with the wind, it takes only 5 hours. Find the rate of the airplane with no wind. Find the rate of the wind.
thanks

Answer by rothauserc(4718) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let x be the rate of the airplane, y be the rate of the wind
therefore we have the following two equations
(x-y)*6 = 900 note that * means multiply and rate*time = distance
(x+y)*5 = 900
solve first equation for x and substitute in second equation
x-y = 150
x = 150+y
(150+y+y)*5 = 900
2y = 180 - 150
2y = 30
y = 15
x-15 = 150
x = 165
the speed of the airplane is 165 mph and speed of the wind is 15 mph