An airplane, flying with a tail wind, travels 1300 miles in 2 hours. The return trip, against the wind, takes 2 1/2 hours.
Find the cruising speed of the plane and the speed of the wind (assume that both rates are constant).

Question

An airplane, flying with a tail wind, travels 1300 miles in 2 hours. The return trip, against the wind, takes 2 1/2 hours.
 Find the cruising speed of the plane and the speed of the wind (assume that both rates are constant).

anonymous · Answer

do you have an idea of how to solve?
ie, the equation you would use?

anonymous · Answer

I think you have to use elimination but I am honestly lost.

cwrw238 · Answer

let x be cruising speed and y = speed of wind  in mph
distance = speed * time
with tail wind:
1300 = 2(x + y)
against wind:
1300 = 2.5(x - y)

anonymous · Answer

Solve the following for s and w, the plane's speed and wind speed respectively.$$\left\{2(s+w) =1300,\frac{5}{2}(s-w)=1300\right\}$$$$\{s=585 \text{ mph},w=65 \text{ mph}\}$$