Question

When a small plane flies with the wind, it can travel 800 miles in 5 hours. When the plane flies in the opposite direction, against the wind, it takes 8 hours to fly the same distance. What is the rate of the plane in still air and the rate of the wind?

Answer 1

The plane will travel 130mph in still air and the wind current is 30mph.

Explanation:

First, let `x` be the speed of the plane when travelling in still air and `y` the speed of wind. When the plane is travelling against the wind, the speed is `x-y`. When it is going with the wind, the speed is `x+y`.

Using the formula `d=rt` you could write the following equations.

`5(x+y)=800`
`8(x-y)=800`

Simplify to get
`x+y=160`
`x-y=100`

Subtract both equations to get
`2y=60`

Therefore, `y` is 30. Plug in the value to one of the equations to get the value of `x`. `x` is 130. You now have the answer!