Problema Solution

A plane travels from Orlando to Denver and back again. On the five-hour trip from Orlando to Denver, the plane has a tailwind of 40 miles per hour. On the return trip from Denver to Orlando, the plane faces a headwind of 40 miles per hour. This trip takes six hours. What is the speed of the airplane in still air?

Answer provided by our tutors

Orlando to Denver

time = 5 hours

Tailwind = 40 mph

speed = x+40

 

Denver to Orlando

Headwind = 40

time = 6 hours

speed = x-40

 

find: speed of plane in still air = x

6(x-40)=5(x+40)

6x-240 = 5x + 200

x = 440 miles per hour = speed of airplane in still air