Problema Solution
if a plane can travel 500 miles per hour with the wind and 420 miles per hour againist the wind, find the speed of the plane in still air.
Answer provided by our tutors
let
v = the speed of the plane in still air
w = the speed of the wind
traveling with the wind the speed of the plane is: v + w
traveling against the wind the speed of the plane is: v - w
now we have
v + w = 500
v - w = 420
by solving we find
v = 460 mph
w = 40 mph
click here to see the step by step solution of the system of equations
the speed of the plane is still air is 460 mph.