Question

A car travels at an average speed of 40 miles per hour for the first 100 miles of a 200-mile trip, and at an average speed of 50 miles per hour for the final 100 miles. what is the car's average speed for the entire 200-mile trip?

Answer 1

Total distance = 200 miles

Time needed for the first 100 miles
= 100 ÷ 40 = 2.5 hours

Time needed for the second 100 miles
= 100 ÷ 50 = 2 hours

Total time = 2.5 + 2 = 4.5 hours

Average speed = 200 ÷ 4.5 hours = 44.4 miles per hour