Problema Solution

a plane traveled 580 miles to jacksonville and back. the trip there was with the wind. it took 5 hours. the trip back was into the wind. the trip back took 10 hours. find the speed of the plane im still air and the speed of the wind

Answer provided by our tutors

let


p = the plane's speed in still air

w = the speed of the wind

d = 580 miles to jacksonville and back

t1 = 10 hours into the wind

t2 = 5 hour with the wind


the speed of the plane traveling against the wind is: p - w

the speed of the plane traveling with the wind is: p + w


since speed = distance/time => distance = speed*time


traveling into the wind


d/2 = (p - w)t1


(p - w)10 = 580/2


(p - w)10 = 290 divide both sides by 10


p - w = 29


traveling against the wind


d/2 = (p + w)t2


(p + w)t2 = d/2


(p + w)5 = 580/2


(p + w)5 = 290 divide both sides by 5


p + w = 58


by solving the system of equations


p - w = 29

p + w = 58


we find


p = 43.5 mph


w = 14.5 mph


click here to see the step by step solution of the system of equations


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the speed of the plane in still air is 43.5 mph.

the speed of the wind is 14.5 mph.


let


p = the plane's speed in still air

w = the speed of the wind

d = 580 miles to jacksonville and back

t1 = 10 hours into the wind

t2 = 5 hour with the wind


the speed of the plane traveling against the wind is: p - w

the speed of the plane traveling with the wind is: p + w


since speed = distance/time => distance = speed*time


traveling against the wind


d/2 = (p - w)t1


(p - w)10 = 580/2


(p - w)10 = 290 divide both sides by 10


p - w = 29


traveling with the wind


d/2 = (p + w)t2


(p + w)t2 = d/2


(p + w)5 = 580/2


(p + w)5 = 290 divide both sides by 5


p + w = 58


by solving the system of equations


p - w = 29

p + w = 58


we find


p = 43.5 mph


w = 14.5 mph


click here to see the step by step solution of the system of equations


Click to see all the steps



the speed of the plane in still air is 43.5 mph.

the speed of the wind is 14.5 mph.