how far west can a pilot go and return in 3 hours if his speed in still air is 450mph when there is a wind blowing from the west at 50mph

Question

Physics/Algebra II

Answer 1

When he is going to the west he will be against the wind and then his real speed will be (450-50) mph, when he is turning back, we have that the speed is (450+50)= 500 mph

The two equations are:

(450-50) t1=(450+50)t2

t1+t2=3

t2=3-t1

400t1=500(3-t1)

900t1=1500

t1= 1500/900 = (1(2/3)) hours, so he will go 400*5/3 = 666.67 miles

If we divide this distance by 500 miles we obtain (1(1/3)) hours which is t2