Problema Solution

Matt and Anna Killian are frequent flyers on Fast-n-Go Airplaines.They often fly between two cities that are a distance of 1980 miles apart.On one particular trip ,they flew into the wind and the trip took 5.5 hours.The return trip with the wind behind them,only took about 4.5 hours. Find the speed of the wind and the speed of the plane still in the air.

Answer provided by our tutors

let


w = the wind speed

v = the speed of the plane in still air

d = 1980 mi

t1 = 4.5 h

t2 = 5.5 h


the speed of the plane with tale wind is: v + w

the speed of the plane against the wind is: v - w


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


with tale wind


(v + w)t1 = d


(v + w)4.5 = 1980


against the wind:


(v - w)t2 = d


(v - w)*5.5 = 1980


by solving the system of equations


(v + w)4.5 = 1980

(v - w)*5.5 = 1980


we find


v = 400 mph


w = 40 mph


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


Click to see all the steps