An airplane flying into a headwind travels the 1800mile flying distance between two cities in 3 hours.

Question

An airplane flying into a headwind travels the 1800-mile flying distance between two cities in 3 hours. On the return flight, the airplane travels this distance in 2 hours and 30 minutes. Find the airspeed of the plane and the speed of the wind, assuming that both remain constant.

Answer 1

The key to solving this problem is the given information that both the plane speed and wind speed are constant. That is the speed of the plane does not change in either direction nor the speed of the wind. If you assume that wind speed is 0, then what are the actual plane speeds to and from the two cities? Are they the same (constant)? If not, then the airspeed must exist and has an effect on the plane speed. That means you need to figure out how wind speed effects plane speed . If the plane goes into a headwind does that increase or decrease the effectiveness of travel? Likewise, If the plane is pushed by headwind on the return flight with that increase or decrease the speed of the plane? Note that in either case the actual speed of the plane --effected by wind-- is not the same as the intended speed of the plane, which is constant because the pilot has the throttle fixed. I hope this helps. Math on!