Problema Solution
An airplane can travel 505 mph in still air. If it travels 4914 with the wind in the same length of time it travels 4176 miles against the wind, what is the speed of the wind?
Answer provided by our tutors
let
v = 505 mph the rate of the plane in still air
w = the rate of the wind
d1 = 4914 mi the distance flying with the wind
d2 = 4176 mi the distance flying against the wind
t = the time of each flight
since the rate = distance/time we have
when flying with the wind, the rate is: v + w
v + w = d1/t
505 + w = 4914/t
t = 4914/(505 + w)
when flying against the wind, the rate is: v - w
v - w = d2/t
505 - w = 4176/t
t = 4176/(505 - w)
that is we have:
4914/(505 + w) = 4176/(505 - w) cross-multiply
4914(505 - w) = 4176(505 + w)
by solving we find:
w = 41 mph
click here to see the step by step solution of the equation:
the speed of the wind is 41 mph.