Systems of Equations - Elimination

Question

Matt and Anna Killian are frequent fliers on Fast-n-Go Airlines. They often fly between two cities that are a distance of 16801680 miles apart. On one particular trip, they flew into the wind and the trip took 44 hours. The return trip with the wind behind them, only took about 3.53.5 hours. Find the speed of the wind and the speed of the plane in still air.

Answer 1

Let x = speed of plane in the still air

let y = speed of wind

 

recall the rate = distance/time

 

x-y = 1680/4.4

 

x+y = 1680/3.5

 

now, solve for x and y.