MHB What is the Average Speed of a Train Traveling 18 km in 20 Minutes?

Click For Summary
The average speed of a train traveling 18 km in 20 minutes is calculated by converting the time into hours, resulting in 0.333 hours. Using the formula for average speed, v = d/t, the calculation yields an average speed of 54 kilometers per hour. The discussion emphasizes the importance of using fractions instead of decimals for clarity in calculations. Participants highlight that the recurring decimal can be avoided by using the fraction 1/3. Overall, the average speed determination is straightforward when using the correct time conversion.
mathlearn
Messages
331
Reaction score
0
The total distance traveled by trains is 18 km & the time spent is 20 minutes. Find the average speed of the train in kilometers per hour.

I' m stuck right in the beginning in converting 20 minutes to hours by dividing from 60 which I get this recurring decimal 0.33333
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
You don't need a decimal value...

$$\overline{v}=\frac{d}{t}=\frac{18\text{ km}}{\dfrac{1}{3}\text{ hr}}=54\text{ kph}$$
 
MarkFL said:
You don't need a decimal value...

$$\overline{v}=\frac{d}{t}=\frac{18\text{ km}}{\dfrac{1}{3}\text{ hr}}=54\text{ kph}$$
Thanks :D The times when you got to decide between fractions and decimals
 

Thread 'Area of Overlapping Squares'

Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?
View full post »

Similar threads

MHB Eb5 Calculate the average speed in km/h
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Average Speed Question for a Train that Accelerates and then Decelerates
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
2K
High School Graphing trip efficiency - distance over time
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
1-dimensional kinematics - final velocity of 2 trains in opposing direction
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
935
MHB Optimizing Truck Speed and Freight Load for Cost Efficiency on Interstate Travel
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
MHB How do you calculate acceleration, retardation, and distance in a train journey?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Undergrad Question about the velocity of the center of mass reference frame
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K
MHB Calculating Speed: Solving a Distance and Time Problem
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
MHB Rower Goes Upstream 2.8 km in 48 Minutes
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Average Speed between two cities
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K