If you bike for 3 hours at 10 mph and then walk for 1 hour at 2 mph, what would be your average speed?

Question

This is my question that I need help on.

Answer 1

What is the definition of “average speed”? Total distance / total time.

 

Good news: it’s obvious how much time he took.

 

not as easy: how far did he go? You have to work that out.

 

first, how far did he go by bike? Distance = Rate * Time

what was his rate of speed while biking? How long did he bike? From these two, you can get his biking distance.

 

second, how far did he go on foot? Same story, what was his rate of speed walking? How long did he walk? From these two, you can get his walking distance.

 

add these two distances to get the total distance.

 

now divide by the total hours to get the average speed.