Question

A company president flew 740 miles in a corporate jet but returned in a smaller plane that could fly only half as fast. If the total travel time was 6 hours, find the speeds of the planes.

Answer 1

Corporate jet = 370 mph

Smaller plane = 185 mph

Explanation:

The relationship between the first leg and the second leg of the flight is:

`2t_1=t_2`

Total travel time is:

`t_1+t_2=6\ hours\\t_1+2t_1=6\\t_1=2\ hours`

The speed of the corporate jet is:

`v=(740\ miles)/(2\ hours)\\v=370\ mph`

The speed of the smaller plane is half of that of the jet:

`v_2=(370)/(2)\\ v_2=185\ mph`

Therefore, the corporate jet travels at 370 mph and the smaller plane travels at 185 mph.