Problema Solution
An airplane encountered a head wind during a flight between Joppetown and Jawsburgh which took 5
hours and 48
minutes. The return flight took 5
hours. If the distance from Joppetown to Jawsburgh is 1600
miles, find the airspeed of the plane (the speed of the plane in still air) and the speed of the wind, assuming both remain constant.
Answer provided by our tutors
d = 1600 mi
t1 = 5 hr 48 min = 5 + 48/60 = 5.8 hr
t2 = 5 hr
v = the speed of the plane in still air
w = the speed of the wind
Traveling with head wind:
v - w = d/t1
v - w = 1600/5.8
Traveling with tale wind:
v + w = 1600/5
We have the following system of equations:
v - w = 1600/5.8
v + w = 1600/5
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click here to see the system of equations solved for v and w
........
v = 297.93 mph
w = 22.07 mph
The speed of the plane is 297.93 mph while the speed of the wind is 22.07 mph.