The "Plane on a Treadmill" Question

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by Phage0070

The other interpretation is not internally consistent as it requires the treadmill to be simultaneously stationary and moving. (If the plane rolls forward and the treadmill is matching speed as compared to the ground, to keep it stationary would imply that the treadmill is stationary as well, but also moving at twice the speed the plane is attempting to accelerate) I chose the one that made sense.

Where are you getting the highlighted bit, from the question?

Plane moves forward, relative to the ground, at speed X.
Treadmill moves backward, relative to the ground, at matching speed X.
Wheels spin at 2 X as plane takes off.

The question tries to trick you into thinking that the "spirit" of the question is that the plane is held stationary relative to the ground, but the words of the question make no such claim.