Question

An airplane travels 1,800 miles from Los Angeles to Chicago in 3.6 hours, going with the wind. The return trip takes 4 hours and is against the wind. Find the rate of the airplane with no wind. Find the rate of the wind.

Answer 1

The "rate" at which something travels can be referred to as velocity.

V = displacement / time

So going with the wind, Vp + Vw = 1800 / 3.6 = 500 mph
Going against the wind, Vp - Vw = 1800 / 4 = 450 mph

Vp = 500 - Vw
Vp = 450 + Vw

500 - Vw = 450 +Vw

2Vw = 50

Vw = 25 mph
Vp = 475 mph