Question

A pilot flew a 400-mile flight in 2.5 hours flying into the wind. Flying the same rate and with the same wind speed, the return trip took only 2 hours, with a tailwind.
What was the speed of the wind?

miles per hour

Answer 1

Answer:

20 miles per hour

Step-by-step explanation:

traveling against the wind was 160mph (400/2.5)

traveling with the wind was 200mph (400/2)

going against the wind is going in the negative direction of the wind speed, and going with the wind is going in a positive direction of the wind speed, therefore the wind speed is |direction1-direction2|/2, which would be |200-160|/2 = |40|/2 = 20mph

(180mph is neutral speed with no wind, with wind affecting this neutral speed ±20mph)