What is the average speed if i walked a 5mile trail in 2 hours and walked back in 1 hour

Question

What is the average speed if i walked up a 5 mile trail mountain taking 2 hours and it only takes me 1 hour to walk back down the trail

Answer 1

distance=rate*time

total distance=rate*total time

10=rate*3

rate=10/3

rate=3 1/3 mph or 3.333... mph

 

you can also use the harmonic mean (look it up)

 

(2*rate1*rate2)/rate1+rate2

5=r*2

r=2.5 mph

5=r*1

r=5 mph

(2*2.5*5)/(2.5+5)=25/7.5=3.333... mph