Question

An airplane flies 750 miles due west in 1 1! 2hours and 750 miles due south in 2 hours. what is the average speed of the airplane

Answer 1

Use the Pyth. Theorem to calculate the total distance flown by the plane in 3 1/2 hours:

d = sqrt(750^2 + 750^2) = 750sqrt(2) miles

Now divide this distance by the total time (3 1/2 hours):

750sqrt(2) miles
---------------------- = 303 miles per hour average
    3.5 hours