Problema Solution
It takes a plane 10 hours to travel 1200 miles with the wind. The return trip takes 12 hours. How fast is the wind blowing?
Answer provided by our tutors
Let
v = the speed of the plane in still air
w = the speed of the wind
v + w = the speed of the plane when traveling with the wind
v - w = the speed of the plane when traveling against the wind
Since speed = distance/time we have:
When traveling with the wind
v + w = 1200/10
v + w = 120
When traveling against the wind
v - w = 1200/12
v - w = 100
We have the following system of equations:
v + w = 120
v - w = 100
........
click here to see the system of equations solved for v and w
........
v = 110 mph
w = 10 mph
The wind is blowing with average speed of 10 mph.