i need help
an airplane flies into a headwind with an effective ground speed of 140 mi/h. On the return trip it flies with the tailwind and has an effective ground speed of 240mi/h. Find the speed p of the plane in still air, and the speed w of the wind.

so far i have p-w=140
and p+w=240

now do i also need to put them in determinant?

Question

i need help 
an airplane flies into a headwind with an effective ground speed of 140 mi/h. On the return trip it flies with the tailwind and has an effective ground speed of 240mi/h. Find the speed p of the plane in still air, and the speed w of the wind.

so far i have p-w=140
and p+w=240 

now do i also need to put them in determinant?

anonymous · Answer

why do you need determinant??
just add up both equations and 2p=380 =>p=190 the just put the value of p in any of the eqns to get q

anonymous · Answer

cause it says to find the speed. i would end up with 50 and 190 correct?

anonymous · Answer

yep...right