Question

flying against the wind, a jet travels 4600 miles in 5 hours. flying with the wind, the same jet travels 4200 miles in 3 hours. what is the rate of the jet in still air and what is the rate of the wind?

Answer 1

The rate of the jet in still wind is 1160 MPH and the rate of the wind is 240 MPH.

Explanation:

Distance equals rate times time (d = rt)

Against the wind, the rate is:

4600 = r * 5

r = 4600/5 = 920 MPH

With the wind, the rate is:

4200 = r * 3

r = 4200/3 = 1400 MPH

Let W be the rate of the wind in MPH. We know that:

(rate of the jet against the wind) + (rate of the wind) = (rate of the jet with the wind ) - (rate of the wind), so:

920 + W = 1400 - W

2W = 480

W = 240 MPH

And the speed of the jet in still air would be:

1400 - 240 = 1160 MPH