The president of a company traveled 1700 mi by jet and 310 mi on a prop plane. The rate of the jet was four times the rate of the prop plane. The entire trip took a total of 5 h. Find the rate of the jet plane.
A) 588 mph
B) 593 mph
C) 587 mph
D) 594 mph
E) 590 mph

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The rate of the jet is 4 times the rate of the prop plane, so if we let the rate of the prop plane be x, then the rate of the jet is 4x. The time taken by the prop plane is 310/x and by the jet is 1700/(4x). The total time is 5 hours, so the equation is 310/x + 1700/(4x) = 5. Solving for x gives the prop plane's speed, and 4x gives the jet's speed, which is 588 mph.

The President of a Company Traveled 1700 Mi by Jet