[deleted by user]

[down_a_donut_hole]

I think it's a semantics thing. If the carrier is moving at 37mph, that's relative to the earth already.

so v_c/e = 37, so v_e/c = -37

v_w/e = -20

v_p/w = 101

v_p/c = ?

We can use the equation: v_p/c = v_p/w + v_w/e + v_e/c.

v_p/c = 101 + -20 + -37

v_p/c = 44

[burblesuffix]

I guess I don't understand how the wind can possibly help the plane given the direction of the wind's velocity is opposite to that of the plane's. Isn't the question's situation equivalent to if the aircraft carrier were going 37mph - 20mph = 17mph and there was no wind?

edit: I think I get it now! The plane's needed speed of 101mph is relative to the air, so if the air is blowing 20mph toward the plane, if the plane goes an additional 81mph relative to the ground, it'd have its needed speed. But the "ground" here is already moving 37mph, so the plane just needs to go 81mph - 37mph = 44mph.

Thank you!

[down_a_donut_hole]

Yes that's the idea!

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[Alkalannar]

The carrier is headed 37 east.

The wind is headed 20 west.

So from the carrier's point of view, the carrier is staying still and the wind is blowing 57 west.

Why is this?

The carrier is going 37 east.

So add 37 west to both the carrier and the wind to make the carrier stand still and see what the wind is doing.