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An airplane flies due west (i.e. in the-X direction) between two airports. For one-quarter of the distance it travels at 650.0 km/h and the rest at 750.0 km/h. What is the average velocity (not speed) of the airplane?

User Aida Paul
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1 Answer

6 votes

Answer:

average velocity 722 km/h

Step-by-step explanation:

The average speed is defined with the total distance traveled between the total time, let's look for distance and time, we can use the equation

V = X / t

The first distance tells us that it travels ¼ of the total distance (X) at a speed (V1) of 650 km / h

V1 = X1 / t1

t1 = X1 / V1

t1 = ¼ X / 650

The second distance runs ¾ of the total distance at V2 = 750 km / h

V2 = X2 / t2

t2 = X2 / V2

t2 = ¾ X / 750

Total time is the sum of these times

t all = t1 + t2

t all = ¼ X / 650 + ¾ X / 750

t all = X (1/2600 +3/3000)

t all = X (1/2600 + 1/1000)

Let's calculate the average speed

V = X / t

V = X / X (1/2600 +0.001)

V = 1 / 0.001385

V = 722 km / h

User Gordon Westerman
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