A plane flies at x miles per hour in still air. Flying with a tailwind, its speed is 485 miles per hour. Against the wind, its air speed is only 445 miles per hour. What is the speed of the wind?

Question

Mathematics

Helen Flowers

8 April, 21:15

A plane flies at x miles per hour in still air. Flying with a tailwind, its speed is 485 miles per hour. Against the wind, its air speed is only 445 miles per hour. What is the speed of the wind?

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Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Douglas Nielsen · Answer 1

Answer:20mph

Step-by-step explanation:

speed of plane = x mph

Speed of plane with wind = 485 mph

So therefore, speed of wind =

485 - x

Speed of plane against wind = 445 mph

So therefore, speed of wind =

x - 445

So therefore, equating the 2 equations of speed of wind

485 - x = x - 445

Collect like terms

485 + 445 = x + x

930 = 2x

2x = 930

x = 930/2 = 465 mph

Speed of wind = x = 465mph

So we put this value on any of the equations for speed of wind

Speed of wind = x - 445 = 465 - 445

= 20 mph

So therefore, speed of wind = 20mph