Question 540909
p = speed of plane
w = speed of wind
p + w = 500 mph (traveling with the wind)
p - w = 420 mph (travfeling against the wind)
add these 2 equations together and you get:
2p = 920
divide both sides by 2 to get:
p = 460 mph.
this means that w = 40 mph.
with the wind, the speed is 460 mph for the plane plus 40 mph for the wind which equals a total of 500 mph.
against the wind, the speed is 460 mph for the plane minus 40 mph for the wind which equals a total of 420 mph.
number check out.
your answer is:
speed of the plane is 460 mph.
speed of the wind is 40 mph.