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  • Jul 7, 2011, 06:01 PM
    lopezsback
    What is formula in solving average speed?
    What is formula in solving average speed?
  • Jul 7, 2011, 06:04 PM
    ballengerb1

    Add all of the speeds and divide by the number of samples. I.E. 100 mph, 200 mph and 225 mph add up to 425 mph divide by 3 results in 175 mph
  • Jul 7, 2011, 06:08 PM
    Murphstock
    Speed = Distance x Time.
  • Jul 7, 2011, 06:12 PM
    ballengerb1

    There you have it, two totally different answers because we each read your question differently. Why not give us your data and then we can actually see what youn are doing
  • Jul 8, 2011, 08:49 AM
    ebaines

    The average speed is NOT simply the average of the individual speeds, unless the time spent traveling at each speeed is the same. In general you must calculate the total distance traveled and divide by the total time. For example, to use ballengerb1's numbers: if you travel 100 miles at 100MPH, 100 miles at 200MPH, and 100 miles at at 225 MPH then the total distance traveled is 300 miles, and the time taken is 100 mile/100MPH + 100 miles/200 MPH + 100 miles/225MPH = 1.944 hours. So the average speed is 300 miles/1.944 hours = 154.29 MPH.

    The general formula is:



    which is equivalent to:

  • Apr 12, 2012, 04:16 PM
    dhicks88
    Drove 600 miles from his home. On the way back home he averaged 10 MPH less and the drive took him 2 hours longer. What was the average speed
  • Apr 13, 2012, 06:32 AM
    ebaines
    Please don't tack a new question onto an old one - you should start a new thread instead.

    But to get you started: use the formula distance = velocity times time:



    You can set up two equations:



    You are told that and . Substitute these into the above equations and you get two equations in two unknowns . Now solve for [ and .

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