Question 91063
Two airplanes are leaving O'Hare at the same time, one bound for New York and the other for California. The one heading to California has a tail wind and is thus going 25 MPH faster than the one headed for New York. If after one hour they are 575 miles apart, what are their speeds?
:
s = N.Y. plane ground speed
Then
(s + 25) = Cal plane ground speed
:
Dist = time * speed
:
Cal dist + N.Y. dist = 565 mi
1(s+25) + 1(s) = 575
s + 25 + s = 575
2s = 575 - 25
2s = 550
s = 550/2
s = 275 mph is the N.Y. plane's speed, then 300 mph = Cal plane speed
:
Check dist in 1 hr:  1(275) + 1(300) = 575 miles