math question algebra

Question

An airplane travels 1274

 kilometers against the wind in 2

 hours and 1594

 kilometers with the wind in the same amount of time. What is the rate of the plane in still air and what is the rate of the wind?

Answer 1

1274 = (p-w)2

637 = p-w

1594 = (p+w)2

797 = p+w

add the p-w and p+w equations to eliminat one variable

2p = 637+797

p = (637+797)/2 = 717 kph = plane's speed in still air

w= 797-p = 797-717 = 80 kph = wind speed

637 = p-w = 717-80

797= p+w = 717+80