A plane can fly 380 mph in still air. If it can fly 215 miles downwind in the same amount of time it can fly 165 miles upwind, find the velocity of the wind.

Answer 1

Velocity = Distance/Time or Time = Distance/Velocity Let W = the wind velocity

For the first case: Time = 215/(380 + W)

For the second case: Time = 165/(380 - W) Since both times are equal

215/(380 + W) = 165/(380 - W) or 380W = 19,000 or

W = 50 mph = wind speed