Problema Solution

A jet flew at an average speed of 480 mph from point X to point Y. Because of the winds, the jet averaged only 460 mph on the return trip and the return trip took 50 minutes longer. How many hours was the flight from point Y to point X? How far is it from Point Y to point X?

Answer provided by our tutors

let


v1 = 480 mph the speed from X to Y

t1 = the time from X to Y expressed in hours

v2 = 460 mph the speed from Y to X

t2 = the time from Y to X expressed in hours


the return trip took 50 minutes longer and 50 min = 50/60 hours


t2 = t1 + 50/60


t2 = t1 + 5/6


since the distance = avg. speed* time we have


v1*t1 = v2*t2


480*t1 = 460*t2


by solving the system of equations


t2 = t1 + 5/6

480*t1 = 460*t2


we find


t1 = 115/6 hours = 19 hours 10 min


t2 = 20 hours


the flight from Y to X took 20 hours.


the distance = t2*v2 = 20 * 460 = 9200 miles


there are 9,200 miles from Point Y to Point X.