Can anyone help with an average speed problem?

AI Thread Summary
To solve the average speed problem for a racing team of three drivers over a 24-hour event, the first driver covered one-fourth of the race at 140 km/hr, the second one-third at 170 km/hr, and the last the remaining distance at 160 km/hr. The total time for each driver can be calculated as 6 hours for the first, 8 hours for the second, and 10 hours for the third. By determining the distance covered by each driver using their speed and time, the total distance can be summed up. The average speed of the team can then be calculated by dividing the total distance by the total time of 24 hours. This method effectively combines the contributions of each driver to find the overall average speed.
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Homework Statement



A racing team of 3 drivers drove a 24 hour event in shifts. The first driver drove only one fourth of the race but averaged 140km/hr. The second driver drove one third of the race at an average speed of 170 km/hr. The last driver drove the remainder of the race at 160 km/hr. What was the average speed of the team?

Homework Equations


I do not know how to set up the problem in order to find average speed since there is no specific distance


The Attempt at a Solution


 
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Well, this is kind of an odd question. I would think that a weighted average could work. E.g. multiply the first speed by 1/4, the second by 1/3, and the third by 5/12. Then add these numbers together. See if that gives you the right answer, I'm not entirely sure.
 
You have the total time: T=24h
Then, t1=\frac{1}{4}T=6h
t2=\frac{1}{3}T=8h
t3=\frac{5}{12}T=10h

The distance of each shift:
d1=v1*t1
d2=v2*t2
d3=v3*t3

Now you have the total distance and the total time, so you can calculate the average speed.
 
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