Question 1125317
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Let  t = "How many hours did it take the first plane to travel to the destination".


Then (t-0.5) is the time in hours for the second plane (it started 30 minutes = 0.5 of an hour later).


The equation is


    496*t = 558*(t-0.5),


saying that the distance is the sane.


Simplify and solve


    496t = 558t - 558*0.5

    558*0.5 = 558t - 496t = (558 - 496)*t = 62t  ====>  t = {{{(558*0.5)/62}}} = 4.5.


<U>Answer</U>.  4.5 hours.
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