How Do You Calculate Average Speed If You're Given Distance and Time in Minutes?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating average speed given distance and time, specifically focusing on a scenario where a car travels 30 kilometers in 30 minutes. Participants are exploring the relationship between distance, time, and the correct units for average speed.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to clarify the formula for average speed and questions how to convert time from minutes to hours. Some participants discuss the implications of using different units for speed and suggest setting up fractions to aid in understanding the conversion process.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some providing insights on unit conversion and dimensional analysis. There is a mix of understanding, as indicated by one participant expressing confusion over a response, suggesting that while some guidance has been offered, not all participants are on the same page.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of a calculator feature that the original poster is unsure about, which may indicate a lack of familiarity with certain mathematical tools. Additionally, the discussion highlights the need for clarity regarding unit conversions and the setup of fractions in the context of time measurement.

Cheesus128
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Hey,
This is kinda a thick question but never mind.
A car travels 30KM and that for 30mins.
What is the average speed of the car?Formula is Average speed= Distance Travelled DIVIDED BY Time taken.

But its not 30 DIVIDED by 30 is it?
Is it 30 DIVIDED by 0.5 as 30mins is half of an hour?
And how exactly do you work out say 14mins of 1hour?
(I have the Circle with 3 commas [o,,,] on my calculator, forgot what its called sorry but I don't quiet get how it works.)
Thank you!
 
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Cheesus128 said:
But its not 30 DIVIDED by 30 is it?
That depends on the units you wanted. 30 km/30 minutes = 1 km/min
Is it 30 DIVIDED by 0.5 as 30mins is half of an hour?
That's fine. That will give you km/hour as your units of speed.
And how exactly do you work out say 14mins of 1hour?
How many minutes in an hour? Set up a fraction.
 
Your average speed is DeltaX/Deltat if you want your speed in km/hour you can convert your units using dimensional analysis. (km/min) * (60min/hour)
 
Thanks Doc. Understood that.
And thanks Melgibson for the answer even though I am sorry to say I understood nothing of what you said. But still thank you for the effort.
 

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