# Speed/Velocity Problem

1. Sep 22, 2013

### Medgirl314

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A car travels at a speed of 30 km/h for a distance of 12 km. It then reaches a freeway where it travels at 85 km/h for 40 km. Find the average speed of the car for the entire trip.

2. Relevant equations t=change in x over change in v.

3. The attempt at a solution
I know the equations for speed and velocity, but I can't figure out how to apply them to this problem. I made several attempts, which I erased. I don't want anyone to solve the problem for me, but I would really appreciate a list of steps and/or the directions for applying the formula.

2. Sep 22, 2013

### voko

What do you need to know to find the average speed?

3. Sep 22, 2013

### Medgirl314

The only equation I was given was t=change in x/change in y. I apologize for the format of the equation, I have no clue how to make it look proper on here.

4. Sep 22, 2013

### voko

I assume your equation is $$t = \frac {\Delta x} {\Delta v}$$ Are you sure this is really the equation you were given? I would expect an equation like $$\Delta t = \frac {\Delta x} {v_{\text{average}}}$$

5. Sep 22, 2013

### Medgirl314

Yes, the top one is the one I referred to. It is the one I was given, but I was also told that the t could be exchanged with the v if needed. I turned back to my notes, and I also see the second equation recorded, but with only t images ebb of delta t. I had assumed the top and bottom equations were the same. I'm still in the first few weeks of my course, and am trying to smooth out a few details.

6. Sep 22, 2013

### Medgirl314

*with only t instead of delta t. Sorry. Auto-correct is out to get me.

7. Sep 22, 2013

### voko

Alright then.

You need the second equation to obtain the average speed, in which case it is best recast as $$v_{\text{average}} = \frac {\Delta x} {\Delta t}$$ (I am sticking with deltas for time and distance so that we know we are dealing with some intervals)

Now, to apply the equation and get your answer, you need to know both $\Delta x$ and $\Delta t$. Any idea about them?

8. Sep 22, 2013

### Medgirl314

Do the changes in x and t mean I should add the 30 km/h and the 40 km/h, and add the 12 km and 40 km?

9. Sep 22, 2013

### voko

Since you are looking for the average speed during the entire trip (as the problem states), $\Delta x$ means the change in distance during the entire trip. And $\Delta t$ simply means the duration of the entire trip. What are they?

10. Sep 22, 2013

### Medgirl314

Would delta x=52 km, and delta t=115 km/h ? Or vice-versa?

11. Sep 22, 2013

### voko

$\Delta x$ is 52 km indeed. However, $\Delta t$ is time, and 115 km/h, no matter how you got it, is not time, it is speed.

12. Sep 22, 2013

### Medgirl314

Great, thank you! So how do I figure out the time if I'm only given speed and distance?

13. Sep 22, 2013

### Kot

Time can be found by dividing distance by speed.

14. Sep 22, 2013

### voko

Your trip has two legs. You can compute the duration of each leg by applying the first formula.

15. Sep 22, 2013

### Medgirl314

My first thought to apply the formula was to divide 30 km/h by 12 km, but that gives me 2.5 hours, which can't be right. I'm mixing up the numbers somehow.

16. Sep 22, 2013

### voko

To get duration, you are supposed to divide the change in distance by speed. Not speed by change in distance.

Remember, this is because speed is defined to be change in distance divided by duration.

17. Sep 22, 2013

### Medgirl314

For the first leg, would that be 12 km/ 30 km/h, yielding 0.4 hours?

18. Sep 22, 2013

### voko

Correct.

19. Sep 22, 2013

### Medgirl314

Wonderful. So the duration for the second leg of the trip would be approximately 0.47 hours. So then do I divide 52 km by 0.87 hours? That would yield an answer of approximately 59 km/h.

20. Sep 22, 2013

Well done!