A military jet flies directly over and at a right angles to the straight line course of a commercial jet. The military jet is flying 200 mph faster than four times the commercial jet. How fast is each going if they are 2050 miles apart (on a straight line) after one hour?

Answer 1

Commercial Jet speed = x mi/hr,
Military Jet speed = (4x + 200) mi/hr.

X mi/hr * 1 hr + (4x + 200) mi/hr * 1 hr = 2050,
x + (4x + 200) = 2050,
5x + 200 = 2050,
5x = 2050 - 200 = 1850,
x = 370 mi/hr = commercial jet speed,
4x + 200 = 4 * 370 + 200 = 1680 mi/hr =
military jet speed.

Answer 2

If this is a right angle why does Henry not use the pythagorean theorum? Since the distances are just the speeds (thanks to the 1 hour) wouldn't it be X^2 + (4x+200)^2 = 2050^2?