Question

A traveler flies from Charlotte, North Caroline to Los Angeles, California. At the same time, another traveler flies from Lost Angeles to Charlotte. The air speed of each plane is the same. The ground speed of the first plane is 550 mi/ hour and the ground speed of the second plane is 495 mi/hr. What is the air speed? What is the wind speed? Step 1: Write a system of equations Step 2: Choose a method to solve the system BE GOOD IN THE ANSWER

Answer 1

• Air speed of planes is 522.5 mi/hr,
• Wind speed is 27.5 mi/hr.

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Let the air speed of the planes be s and the speed of the wind be w.

The two equations are:

• 550 - w = s
• 495 + w = s

Add up the two equations, it will eliminate w and we'll solve it for s:

• 550 + 495 = s + s
• 1045 = 2s
• s = 1045/2
• s = 522.5

The air speed of planes is 522.5 mi/hr.

Find the wind speed:

• 550 - w = 522.5
• w = 550 - 522.5
• w = 27.5

The wind speed is 27.5 mi/hr.