SOLUTION: Please help me solve this equation: In 2hours30mins an airplane travels 600 km against the wind. The return trip (with the wind) takes 1hour40mins. Find the speed of the wind and t

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Question 920761: Please help me solve this equation: In 2hours30mins an airplane travels 600 km against the wind. The return trip (with the wind) takes 1hour40mins. Find the speed of the wind and the speed of the airplane in still air.
Just plugging these numbers into D=RT isn't working. (I had converted the hours to minutes first, it's still not coming out right)

Answer by josgarithmetic(39620) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
r, speed if no wind
w, speed of the wind

____________________speed__________time_________distance
AGAINST_____________r-w____________2&1/2________d=%28r-w%29%282%261%2F2%29=600
WITH________________r+w____________1&2/3________d=%28r%2Bw%29%281%262%2F3%29=600

Two linear equation in the two unknown variables r and w.

AGAINST:
%28r-w%29%285%2F2%29=600
5%28r-w%29=1200
r-w=12%2A20
highlight_green%28r-w=240%29

WITH:
%28r%2Bw%29%285%2F3%29=600
5%28r%2Bw%29=1800
r%2Bw=18%2A20
highlight_green%28r%2Bw=360%29

Elimination Method would be easiest to use.