Problema Solution

Going east with the jetstream, a plane makes a 1680 mile trip in 3 hours.

Going west against the jetstream, the plane makes the trip in 5.6 hours.

What is the speed of the plane(p) and the speed of the jetstream(j)

Answer provided by our tutors

Going east with the jetstream, the speed of the plane is: p + j


since distance = speed*time we have


(p + j)3 = 1680 divide both sides by 3


p + j = 660


Going west against the jetstream, the speed of the plane is: p -j


since distance = speed*time we have


(p - j)*5.6 = 1680 divide both sides by 5.6


p - j = 300


by solving the system of equations


p + j = 660

p - j = 300


we find


p = 480 mph


j = 180 mph


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the speed of the plane is 480 mph.

the speed of the jetstream is 180 mph.