this is an algebra systems problem?

Question

Okay, this is a system problem so it needs to equations to solve a.) and b.)

okay, i don't get this problem AT ALL!!

Suppose you are flying an ultralight aircraft to a nearby town 18 miles away. With a tail wind, the trip takes 1/3 hour. Your return flight with a head wind takes 3/5 hour.

a.) Find the average airspeed of the ultralight aircraft.
b.) Find the average windspeed.

And i checked in the back of the book and the answers are: a.) 42 mi/h and b.) 12 mi/h. The problem is that i have NO CLUE how you get those answers!!

Does anyone know how to set up the equations?

Answer 1

d = r x t

Let rave be the average airspeed of the aircraft

Let rwind be the wind speed

(rave+rwind) x 1/3 = 18

(rave-rwind) x 3/5 = 18

Two equations with two unknowns. Now solve.

Bozo

Answer 2

d=rt

rate is the airspeed plus or minus the tailwind depending on direction.