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?

Question

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?

anonymous · Answer

I dont understand it!

stormfire1 · Answer

If it takes the plane 5 hours with a 40MPH tailwind and 6 hours with a 40MPH headwind, the plane's speed will be the average of the 2 with no wind...so with no wind, it will take the plane 5.5 hours

anonymous · Answer

right, but the question is "For the following problems show how the problem is set up, the work to solve the problem, along with the solution."

stormfire1 · Answer

Ok..I think I know what it's asking now.

So it's: 5(x+40) = 6(x-40)

just solve for x to get 440MPH