Problema Solution

a pilot can fly a plane 1080 miles with the wind in the same time as she can fly 960 miles against the wind. if the speed of the wind is 30 mph, what is the speed of the airplane in still air?

Answer provided by our tutors

let


v = the speed of the plane in still air, v>0


w = 30 mph 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


since speed = distance/time follows time = distance/speed


1080/(v + w) = 960/(v - w)


1080/(v + 30) = 960/(v - 130)


by solving we find:


v = 1410 mph


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the speed of the airplane in still air is 1410 mph.