AVERAGE SPEED WORD PROBLEMS WORKSHEET WITH ANSWERS

Problem 1 :

A person travels from Newyork to Washington at the rate of 45 miles per hour and comes backs to the Newyork at the rate of 55 miles per hour. What is his average speed for the whole journey ?

Problem 2 :

A man takes 10 hours to go to a place and come back by walking both the ways. He could have gained 2 hours by riding both the ways. The distance covered in the whole journey is 18 miles. Find the average speed for the whole journey if he goes by walking and comes back by riding.

Problem 3 :

Lily takes 3 hours to travel from place A to place B at the rate of 60 miles per hour. She takes 2 hours to travel from place B to C with 50% increased speed. Find the average speed from place A to C.

Problem 4 :

Distance from A to B = 200 miles,

Distance from B to C = 300 miles,

Distance from C to D = 540 miles

The speed from B to C is 50% more than A to B. The speed from C to D is 50% more than B to C. If the speed from A to B is 40 miles per hour, find the average speed from A to D.

Problem 5 :

Time ( A to B ) = 3 hours,

Time (B to C ) = 5 hours,

Time (C to D ) = 6 hours

If the distances from A to B, B to C and C to D are equal and the speed from A to B is 70 miles per hour, find the average speed from A to D

Solutions

Problem 1 :

A person travels from Newyork to Washington at the rate of 45 miles per hour and comes backs to the Newyork at the rate of 55 miles per hour. What is his average speed for the whole journey ?

Solution :

Step 1 :

Here, both the ways, he covers the same distance.

Then, the formula to find average speed is

= 2xy / (x+y)

Step 2 :

x ----> Rate at which he travels from Newyork to Washington

x = 45

y ----> Rate at which he travels from Newyork to Washington

y = 55

Step 3 :

So, the average speed is

= (2 ⋅ 45 ⋅ 55) / (45 + 55)

= 4950 / 100

= 49.5

So, the average speed for the whole journey is 45 miles per hour.

Problem 2 :

Solution :

Step 1 :

Given : A man takes 10 hours to go to a place and come back by walking both the ways.

That is,

Walking + Walking = 10 hours

2 ⋅ Walking = 10 hours

Walking = 5 hours

Given : He could have gained 2 hours by riding both the ways.

That is,

Riding + Riding = 8 hours

2 ⋅ Riding = 8 hours

Riding = 4 hours

Step 2 :

If he goes by walking and comes back by riding, time taken by him :

Walking + Riding = 5 + 4

Walking + Riding = 9 hours

Step 3 :

Total time taken = 9 hours

Total distance covered = 18 miles

Step 4 :

So, the average speed is

= Total distance / Total time

= 18 / 9

= 2

So, the required average speed is 2 miles per hour.

Problem 3 :

Solution :

Step 1 :

Speed ( from A to B ) = 60 miles/hour

Speed ( from B to C ) = 90 miles/hour (50% increased)

Step 2 :

Formula to find distance is

= Rate ⋅ Time

Distance from A to B is

= 60 ⋅ 3

= 180 miles

Distance from B to C

= 90 ⋅ 2

= 180 miles

Total distance traveled from A to B is

= 180 + 180

= 360 miles

Total time taken from A to B is

= 3 + 2

= 5 hours

Step 3 :

Formula to find average speed is

= Total distance / Total time

= 360 / 5

= 72

So, the average speed from place A to B is 72 miles/hour.

Problem 4 :

Distance from A to B = 200 miles,

Distance from B to C = 300 miles,

Distance from C to D = 540 miles

The speed from B to C is 50% more than A to B. The speed from C to D is 50% more than B to C. If the speed from A to B is 40 miles per hour, find the average speed from A to D.

Solution :

Step 1 :

Speed ( from A to B ) = 40 miles/hour

Speed ( from B to C ) = 60 miles/hour (50% more)

Speed ( from C to D ) = 90 miles/hour (50% more)

Step 2 :

Formula to find time is

= Distance / Time

Time (A to B) = 200 / 40 = 5 hours

Time (B to C) = 300 / 60 = 5 hours

Time (C to D) = 540 / 90 = 6 hours

Total time taken from A to D is