word problem

Question

an airplane travels at a constant rate. flying with the wind, it takes 3.3 hours to travel 1980 miles. flying against the wind the return trip takes 5 hours. if there was no wind how fast was the airplane flying?

Answer 1

The speed of the craft with the wind (adding wind speed) is determined by Speed = Distance/Time = 1980/3.3 = 600 mph.

 

The speed of the craft against the wind (subtracting wind speed) is determined by Speed = Distance/Time = 1980/5 = 396 mph.

 

600 - 396 = twice the wind speed = 204. Divide this in half, and that's the wind speed. Then simply subtract 102 from 600 or add 102 to 396 to get 498 mph, the speed of the craft alone.

 

By the way, 498 is the midpoint of 600 and 396, so you could just calculate these and then find the average, which is the midpoint.