Question

A plane traveled 1260 miles each way to Rome and back. The trip there was with the wind. It

took 9 hours. The trip back was into the wind. The trip back took 15 hours. What is the speed of the plane in still air? What is the speed of the wind?
(include work please)

Answer 1

112 mph , 28 mph

Step 1

s + w = 1260/9 = 140

s - w = 1260/15 = 84

Step 2

2s = 140 + 84

s = 224/2

s = 112 mph

Step 3

Finding w: w = s - 84 = 112 - 84 = 28 mph

Answer 2

• 112 mph and 28 mph

Explanation:

Let the speed in still air be s and speed of wind w.

Equations for speed:

• s + w = 1260/9 = 140
• s - w = 1260/15 = 84

Add up the equations:

• 2s = 140 + 84
• s = 224/2
• s = 112 mph

Finding w:

• w = s - 84 = 112 - 84 = 28 mph