A light aircraft travels 5 miles per hour less than twice the speed of a bus. If the bus can travel 114 miles in the same time it takes the aircraft to travel 218 miles, then what is the average speed of each?

A represents the speed of the aircraft.

b represents the speed of the bus.

a=2b-5

114/b=218/a

Substitution method

114/b=218 / (2b-5)

(2b-5) * (114/b) = 218

(228b-570) / b = 218

228b-570 = 218b

228b-218b=570

10b = 570

b=57

Plug the value of b into one of the original equations.

a=2 (57) - 5

a=114-5

a=109

Final answer:

Average speed of plane = 109

Average speed of bus = 57