Two planes, which are 3500 miles apart, fly toward each other. Their speeds differ by 75mph. If they pass each other in 4 hours, what is the speed of each?

Answer: the speed of the first plane is 400 miles per hour.

the speed of the second plane is 475 miles per hour.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x represent the speed of the first plane.

Their speeds differ by 75mph. This means that the speed of the second plane would be x + 75

Two planes, which are 3500 miles apart, fly toward each other. If they pass each other in 4 hours, It means that both planed traveled a total distance of 3500 miles in 4 hours.

Distance = speed * time

Distance travelled by the first plane after 4 hours would be

4 * x = 4x

Distance travelled by the second plane after 4 hours is

4 (x + 75) = 4x + 300

Since the total distance travelled by both planes after 4 hours is 3500 miles, then

4x + 300 + 4x = 3500

8x = 3500 - 300 = 3200

x = 3200/8 = 400 miles per hour

The speed of the second plane would be

400 + 75 = 475 miles per hour.

400, 475

Step-by-step explanation:

Speed of planes : x and x+75

4x + 4 * (x+75) = 3500

4x + 4x + 300 = 3500

8x = 3200

x = 400

X+75 = 475