Question

I'm really confused about this equation. I'm trying to figure it out, but I'm lost and think I'm overthinking it

Jet A Travels at 417 mph and gets halfway to its destination in two hours. Jet B makes the same journey but makes it to the destination in 5 minutes. How fast is Jet B in MPH, or how much faster is Jet B than Jet A As A Multiplier?

Example: 417 * 48 = 20016 Or Jet B = X MPH

I think the answer is 417 * 48 = 20016 and Jet B= 20016

But I just need reassurance, or a definitive answer

Answer 1

• Jet B speed: 20,016 mph
• speed multiplier: 48

Explanation:

You want the speed and speed multiplier for Jet B given that it makes a journey in 5 minutes that takes Jet A 2 hours for half the journey.

Speed multiplier

For the same distance, speed is inversely proportional to time.

speed multiplier = (speed B)/(speed A) = (time A)/(time B)

speed multiplier = ((2 h)/(1/2))/(5 min)

speed multiplier = (240 min)/(5 min) = 48

Speed

The speed of Jet B is 48 times that of Jet A:

48(417 mph) = 20016 mph . . . . speed of Jet B

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Additional comment

The time for the full trip by Jet A can be found using the proportion ...

partial time/partial distance = total time/total distance

If the total distance is "1 unit", then this proportion is ...

(2 h)/(1/2) = t/1 . . . . . where t/1 = t is the time for the full trip by Jet A

You will recognize the value (2 h)/(1/2) as the time value we used for Jet A in the above solution.