Word Problem

Question

A plane has a cruising speed of 250 miles per hour when there is no wind. At this speed, the plane flew 300 miles with the wind in the same amount of time it flew 200 miles against the wind. Find the speed of the wind.

Answer 1

 

 300 = (250+s)* T = 250T + st

 200 = (250-s)* T = 250t   - st

 

500 = 500T  <--- adds them together

 

T = 1, so 1 hour

 

Plugging T=1 into both of the equations,

it is EASY to see that the speed of the wind is 50 mph