An airplane flying into a headwind travels 1160 miles in 4 hours and 50 minutes. On the return flight, the distance is traveled in 4 hours. Find the airspeed of the plane and the speed of the wind, assuming that both remain constant.

Question

Asher Tapia

Mathematics

21 December, 16:35

An airplane flying into a headwind travels 1160 miles in 4 hours and 50 minutes. On the return flight, the distance is traveled in 4 hours. Find the airspeed of the plane and the speed of the wind, assuming that both remain constant.

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Rebecca · Answer 1

Let airspeed of the plane be x mph and wind speed = y mph. Then we have the following system of equations

x - y = 1160 / 4.833 = 240.0166

and

x + y = 1160 / 4 = 290

adding the 2 equations:-

2x = 530.0166

x = 265 mph = airspeed of the plane

y = 290 - 265 = 25 mph = speed of the wind