An airplane flies for 3 hours on a heading due north from San Francisco. The airplane is flying at 250 miles per hour while a 33-mile per hour wind is blowing from the west. What is the total distance flown?
A) 757.8 miles
B) 756.5 miles
C) 752 miles
D) 766.5 miles
E) 758.6 miles

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

First, we need to find the distance the airplane traveled without wind, which is simply the product of the speed and time:

Distance without wind = 250 mph x 3 hours = 750 miles

Next, we need to find the effect of the wind on the airplane's direction. Since the wind is blowing from the west, it will push the airplane slightly southward. We can use the Pythagorean theorem to find the total distance flown:

Total distance = √(Distance without wind² + Effect of wind²)

Effect of wind = (wind speed) x (time) = 33 mph x 3 hours = 99 miles (southward)

Total distance = √(750² + 99²) = √562500 + 9801 = √572301 ≈ 756.53 miles

Therefore, the best choice is B, 756.5 miles.

An Airplane Flies for 3 Hours on a Heading Due