Question

A jet can travel the 6000 km distance between washington,

d.c. and london in 6 hours with the wind. the return trip against the same wind takes 7 hours 30 minutes. find the speed of the jet in still air and the rate of the wind.

Answer 1

d = r*t is the basic distance equation
d = 6000 km
t with the tail wind = 6 hr
r with the tail wind = speed of the plane + wind speed = s + w
t with the head wind = 7.5 hr
r with the head wind = speed of the plane - wind speed = s-w
(s+w)*6 = 6000
(s-w)*7.5 = 6000
s + w = 1000
s - w = 800
2s = 1800
s = 900 km/h
s + w = 1000
w = 100
Check the anwer by calculating the return trip.
(900-100) * 7.5 = 800 * 7.5
800 * 7.5 = 6000 km
Answer: The rate of the jet in still air is 900 km/h. The rate of the wind is 100 km/hr.