Calculating Average Speed: Solving the Wedding Day Conundrum

In summary, the person needs to travel at an average speed of 25 mi/h for the remaining 18 minutes in order to arrive at the church on time. This can be calculated by using the formula for average velocity, which is distance divided by time, and plugging in the remaining distance of 7.5 miles and the remaining time of 18 minutes (converted to hours).
  • #1
XPX1
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On your wedding day you leave for the church 36 minutes before the ceremony is to begin, which should be plenty of time since the church is only 9.0 miles away. On the way, however, you have to make an unanticipated stop for construction work on the road. As a result, your average speed for the first 18 minutes is only 5.0 mi/h. What average speed do you need for the rest of the trip to get you to the church on time?

I have tried to complete this problem several times, and I have failed, it is getting pretty frustrating, here is what I have done.

Average Speed = [Distance][Time]

18 minutes / 5 mi/h = 3.6 miles traveled?

36-18 = 18 minutes more to travel 5.4 miles!





Now there is 5.4 miles left to be traveled. How in the heck do I figure out what my average speed needs to be to travel this within 18 minutes!?
Im seriously confused and lost, please help!
 
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  • #2
The correct formula is average velocity = distance/time.
Also remember to keep everything in the same units. Either make everything hours or everything minutes.
 
  • #3
Still Lost!

Im still lost, even if Average Velocity = [Distance][Time] how do I figure out how fast I have to travel within the given time? if what you said is true, I can convert 18 minutes to hours by dividing 18/60 which gives me .3

.3hrs x 5.0 m/h = 1.5mi traveled?

So now I have 7.5 miles left to travel within 18 minutes, or

7.5 miles left to travel within .3 hours, how do I figure out the average speed required for me to get to the church ontime?
 
  • #4
Well... if average velocity = distance/time. We know that he have to travel 7.5 miles, we know that we must travel that in 18 mins (.3 hours) then we can just plug it into the equation

V = (7.5mi)/(.3hours)
V = 25 mi/h
 

Related to Calculating Average Speed: Solving the Wedding Day Conundrum

What is the definition of average speed?

The average speed is the total distance traveled divided by the total time it took to travel that distance.

How is average speed different from instantaneous speed?

Average speed is calculated by dividing the total distance by the total time, while instantaneous speed is the speed at a specific moment in time.

What is the formula for calculating average speed?

The formula for average speed is: average speed = total distance / total time.

Can average speed be greater than instantaneous speed?

Yes, it is possible for average speed to be greater than instantaneous speed. This can occur when the object is moving at varying speeds throughout the journey.

How is average speed used in real-world applications?

Average speed is commonly used in transportation and navigation systems to estimate arrival times and plan routes. It is also used in sports to measure performance and in physics to analyze motion.

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