# How to calculate average velocity given distance and time?

## Homework Statement

A motorist drives north for 35.9min at 73.3km/hr and then stops for 15.4min. He then continues north, traveling 114.5km in 1.93hr. What is his average velocity?

## Homework Equations

avg velocity = xf - xi / time

## The Attempt at a Solution

35.9 min * (1 hr / 60 min) = 0.5983 hr
0.5983 hr * (73.3 km / hr) = 43 .858 km

total time = 0.5983 hr + 1.93 hr + 0.257 hr = 2.785 hr

avg velocity = xf - xi / time

= 114.5 km - 43.858 km / 2.785 hr

= 25.37 km /hr N

which is actually incorrect because the answer is meant to be 56.9 km /h N.
What am i doing wrong ?

collinsmark
Homework Helper
Gold Member
avg velocity = xf - xi / time

= 114.5 km - 43.858 km / 2.785 hr
What is meant by "xf - xi" here, in general? And as applied to this problem?

What is meant by "xf - xi" here, in general? And as applied to this problem?
the displacement and in this problem, the final distance and initial distance

the displacement
That is where you have gone wrong I assume $x_f$ means final position and $x_i$ means initial position. Here 114.5 Km and 43.858 is already the displacement for the given time intervals. You can find the total displacement by adding the displacements.

That is where you have gone wrong I assume $x_f$ means final position and $x_i$ means initial position. Here 114.5 Km and 43.858 is already the displacement for the given time intervals. You can find the total displacement by adding the displacements.
Wow thanks so much. If this question asked for average speed, would it be the same?
because i know avd speed = total distance / total time

Wow thanks so much. If this question asked for average speed, would it be the same?
because i know avd speed = total distance / total time
Yes.

haruspex