Question

Please explain how to solve this?? I'm a bit confused on how the equation should be.

Two airplanes left an airport at noon. One flew east, and the other flew west at twice the speed. After 3 hours the planes were 2,700 miles apart. How fast was each plane flying?

Answer 1

Since they are flying in opposite directions, there separation distance is the sum of each aircraft distance. Use algebra and the distance = rate times time d=rt.
Let x = rate of the east bound then
2x = rate of west bound. their respective distances would be 2x(3) or 6x and 3(x). Now add them up 6x + 3x = 9x that is the distance they would be separated after 3 hours. You know the distance as it was given in the problem. Solve for the rate........x and 2x.