The average speed is found by dividing the total distance traveled by the total time taken to cover that distance. The formula is:
Average speed=Total distanceTotal time\text{Average speed}=\frac{\text{Total distance}}{\text{Total time}}Average speed=Total timeTotal distance
To calculate it practically:
- Calculate the total distance traveled.
- Calculate the total time spent traveling.
- Divide the total distance by the total time.
For example, if a car travels 150 miles in 3 hours, the average speed would be 1503=50\frac{150}{3}=503150=50 miles per hour. If there are different segments with different speeds and times, calculate the distance for each segment (distance = speed × time), sum all distances and times, then use the formula above to get average speed. This method provides a straightforward way to estimate the overall speed of an object or vehicle over a journey where speed might vary.
