algebra word problems ?
I have no idea how to even start solving this one,
A plane travels from Orlando to Denver and back again. On the five-hour trip from Orlando to Denver, the plane has a tailwind of 40 miles per hour. On the return trip from Denver to Orlando, the plane faces a headwind of 40 miles per hour. This trip takes six hours. What is the speed of the airplane in still air?
does speed = distance x time?
but i dont know the speed or distance.
Comments
this is how i would solve it
it is distance equals rate x time
a is the speed in still air
the rate in the tailwind is a+40
the rate in the headwind is a-40
time is 5 hours in tailwind
time is 6 hours in headwind
5 x (a+40)= 6 x (a-40)
solve and you should get a= 360mph
My answer may not be correct, but i think you go about it in this way:
on the 5 hour trip, you had a tailwind of 40m/h which means your speed was increased by 40m/h. 40m/h over 5 hours is 200 miles. so it's like the plane jumped ahead 200 miles.
on the 6 hour trip, you had a headwind of 40m/h which means your speed was decreased by 40m/h. 40m/h over 6 hours is 240 miles. so it's like the plane fell behind 240 miles.
the difference in times is one hour so the plane was able to make up the 440 miles in one hour, so maybe the plane is traveling at 440 m/h.
But that's a freakin fast plane
The wind speeds cancel; each other out for the amount of time for 5 hours ! you need additional variables like distance to answer the question with even a huge amount of error
Call your FLVS instructor and (s)he will help you!