Two methods to calculate total average speed

This topic has expert replies
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2012 12:05 pm
Followed by:1 members

by sankey014 » Sun Dec 23, 2012 12:42 pm
farooq wrote:A man walks by speed 2 KM/hr and cover 3/4 of total distance in 10 minutes and reaming distance in 30 minutes. What is the total distance ?

A. 400
B. 4.80
C. 360
D. 40
E. None

Ans - E.... but need explanation.....

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:09 pm

by ilovemeforme123 » Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:16 pm
so I have this math homework im only in the 6th grade so here is the question I am having trouble about :::: the fastest running bird is the ostrich. An ostrich can run 240 miles in 6 hours. what is the average speed of an ostrich?????????

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
Followed by:1268 members
GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Wed Jan 15, 2014 2:23 pm
ilovemeforme123 wrote:so I have this math homework im only in the 6th grade so here is the question I am having trouble about :::: the fastest running bird is the ostrich. An ostrich can run 240 miles in 6 hours. what is the average speed of an ostrich?????????
Average speed = (total distance)/(total time)
= (240 miles)/(6 hours)
= 40 miles per hour

Alternatively we might apply some logic.
Traveling 240 miles in 6 hours is the same as traveling 120 miles in 3 hours, and traveling 120 miles in 3 hours is the same as traveling 40 miles in 1 hour (aka 40 miles per hour)

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image

User avatar
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2016 10:22 pm

by praanavjayachandran » Wed Sep 28, 2016 10:53 pm
ajaygiri wrote:thank you ashish!

could not follow the ratio logic though, but the first one is crystal. thanks for the lucid explanation.
I agree that the ratio logic was a bit confusing. I would like you to look at Mr Ashish's ratio approach in a different way.
Suppose a and b be the two speeds (a>b). As mentioned, the average speed in this case is [2*(a*b)]/(a+b).
Just find the difference of the lower speed from this average speed.
[2*(a*b)/(a+b)]-a =a*[(b-a)/(a+b)]. This is exactly what Mr Ashish has added to the lower speed to get the final average speed, but explained in a different way.

GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2630
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:32 pm
Location: East Bay all the way
Thanked: 625 times
Followed by:119 members
GMAT Score:780

by Matt@VeritasPrep » Thu May 11, 2017 8:21 pm
That does seem a bit much, though: I wouldn't recommend memorizing formulas for unusual situations. It's better to get a sense of where averages come from, then (re)generate a useful approach like this when the situation demands it.