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## Two methods to calculate total average speed

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achandwa Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
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#### Two methods to calculate total average speed

Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:31 am
In problems that ask you to calculate total average speed, given the speed for onward and return trip, you could apply a formula or a neat trick to get to the answer faster. Lets derive the genral formula first and see how it applies it to couple of examples.

Say, a car travels at S1 mph on a trip and at S2 mph on return trip. What is its average speed for the entire trip?
Solution:
*** Don't fall in the trap of just averaging the 2 speeds. Overall average speed is not (S1+S2)/2. ***
Total average speed is simply = Total distance/Total time
Lets say,
D = distance travelled by the car in EACH direction
t1 = time spent on onward trip
t2 = time spent on return trip
Thus, the total distance travelled by the car = D+D= 2D
And, by the formula, Speed = Distance/Time
S1 = D/t1 => t1 = D/S1
S2 = D/t2 => t2 = D/S2
Total average speed = Total Distance/Total time = 2D/(t1+t2) = 2D/(D/S1+D/S2) = 2S1*S2/(S1+S2)

Remember this general formula for a total average speed problems:
Total average speed = 2S1*S2/(S1+S2)

Example:
A car travels at 60 mph on a trip and at 100 mph on return trip. What was its average speed for the entire trip?
Solution:
*** Total average speed is not (60+100)/2 = 80 ***
Total average speed = 2*60*100/(100+60) = 2*60*100/160 = 2*60*5/8 = 60*5/4 = 15*5 = 75

Alternatively, you may want to check if the following trick saves you some time.
Calculate the ratio of the speeds r1:r2. In our example it is 60:100 = 3:5
Then divide the difference between the speeds (s2-s1) by r1+r2 to get one part. In our example (100-60)/(3+5) = 5 is one part
The required answer is r1 parts away from the lower speed. That is, 60+r1*5 = 60+3*5 = 75 mph

Lets check how it works for S1=20 mph and S2=40 mph
Method 1:
Using the formula Total avg speed = 2S1*S2/(s1+s2)
= 2*20*40/(20+40)
= 2*20*40/60
= 80/3 = 26.67 mph
Method 2:
Ratio r1:r2 = 20:40 = 1:2
r1+r2 = 3
1 part = (S2-S1)/(r1+r2) = (40-20)/3 = 20/3 = 6.67
Total Avg speed is r1 parts away from smaller speed
Therefore avg speed = 20+ r1*6.67 = 20+1*6.67 = 26.67 mph

Hope you find this useful.
-Ashish

peertje888 Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
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Wed Nov 17, 2010 1:17 am
To see if it made any difference calculating the average wind speed of a turbine I made a test in Excel. In this scenario the duration for every bin is the same. That is why it didn't make any difference.
Attachments

dhruv pillai Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
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Tue Jun 29, 2010 8:29 am
achandwa wrote:
In problems that ask you to calculate total average speed, given the speed for onward and return trip, you could apply a formula or a neat trick to get to the answer faster. Lets derive the genral formula first and see how it applies it to couple of examples.

Say, a car travels at S1 mph on a trip and at S2 mph on return trip. What is its average speed for the entire trip?
Solution:
*** Don't fall in the trap of just averaging the 2 speeds. Overall average speed is not (S1+S2)/2. ***
Total average speed is simply = Total distance/Total time
Lets say,
D = distance travelled by the car in EACH direction
t1 = time spent on onward trip
t2 = time spent on return trip
Thus, the total distance travelled by the car = D+D= 2D
And, by the formula, Speed = Distance/Time
S1 = D/t1 => t1 = D/S1
S2 = D/t2 => t2 = D/S2
Total average speed = Total Distance/Total time = 2D/(t1+t2) = 2D/(D/S1+D/S2) = 2S1*S2/(S1+S2)

Remember this general formula for a total average speed problems:
Total average speed = 2S1*S2/(S1+S2)

Example:
A car travels at 60 mph on a trip and at 100 mph on return trip. What was its average speed for the entire trip?
Solution:
*** Total average speed is not (60+100)/2 = 80 ***
Total average speed = 2*60*100/(100+60) = 2*60*100/160 = 2*60*5/8 = 60*5/4 = 15*5 = 75

Alternatively, you may want to check if the following trick saves you some time.
Calculate the ratio of the speeds r1:r2. In our example it is 60:100 = 3:5
Then divide the difference between the speeds (s2-s1) by r1+r2 to get one part. In our example (100-60)/(3+5) = 5 is one part
The required answer is r1 parts away from the lower speed. That is, 60+r1*5 = 60+3*5 = 75 mph

Lets check how it works for S1=20 mph and S2=40 mph
Method 1:
Using the formula Total avg speed = 2S1*S2/(s1+s2)
= 2*20*40/(20+40)
= 2*20*40/60
= 80/3 = 26.67 mph
Method 2:
Ratio r1:r2 = 20:40 = 1:2
r1+r2 = 3
1 part = (S2-S1)/(r1+r2) = (40-20)/3 = 20/3 = 6.67
Total Avg speed is r1 parts away from smaller speed
Therefore avg speed = 20+ r1*6.67 = 20+1*6.67 = 26.67 mph

Hope you find this useful.
-Ashish
thank you Mr Ashish

### GMAT/MBA Expert

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Tue Nov 13, 2007 10:39 pm
This is really great Ashish! I'm adding this to the Beat The GMAT del.icio.us.

butler Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
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Sun Jan 27, 2008 3:38 pm
Can you explain how this works? 2D/(D/S1+D/S2) = 2S1*S2/(S1+S2)

Thank you

gfinlay Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
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Sat Feb 16, 2008 1:29 pm
butler wrote:
Can you explain how this works? 2D/(D/S1+D/S2) = 2S1*S2/(S1+S2)
To simplify the fractions in the formula, you need to multiply the numerator and denominator by the same value (remember that multiplying by X/X = 1 retains the value of the expression). In the case of the formula above, we need to multiply top and bottom by S1*S2 (common denominator for the fractions D/S1 and D/S2).
So here is the derivation, not leaving out any steps...

2 * D / (D/S1 + D/S2)
Multiply top and bottom by S1 * S2
= 2 * D * S1 * S2 / ((D/S1 + D/S2) * S1 * S2)
Distribute the multipliers in the denominator
= 2 * D * S1 * S2 / (D * S2 + D * S1)
Factor out the D from the denominator (distributive law)
= 2 * D * S1 * S2 / D (S2 + S1)
Cancel the D factor from top and bottom
= 2 * S1 * S2 / (S2 + S1)
Addition is of course commutative, so the order of the terms in the denominator can be reversed ...
= 2 * S1 * S2 / (S1 + S2)

Of course it saves time to just memorize the formula so that you don't have to derive it unless you forget. However, recognize the danger of applying the formula to a distance/speed/time question that doesn't exactly match this pattern (for what is asked).

I hope this helps. If you need more practice on simplification and you happen to have the Princeton Review "Cracking the GMAT 2008 edition", I suggest you go through the Fractions section on pp. 77-81. Remember that in algebra, the rules for arithimetic operations (associative law, commutative law, distributive law, etc) are the same with variables as they are for number constants.

landroni Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
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Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:04 am
I wanted to stress one point (idea taken from this Math Review).

Since we're on to averaging speeds, the speeds will be different in all the cases.

achandwa wrote:
Say, a car travels at S1 mph on a trip and at S2 mph on return trip. What is its average speed for the entire trip?

Remember this general formula for a total average speed problems:
Total average speed = 2S1*S2/(S1+S2)
This is the harmonic mean. This formula applies when the situation is:
- same distance (onward and return trip)

As long as you're in a same or equal distances' situation, any information on time is pretty much irrelevant.

achandwa wrote:
*** Don't fall in the trap of just averaging the 2 speeds. Overall average speed is not (S1+S2)/2. ***
You would use the weighted arithmetic mean when the situation is:
- different distance
- different time

The time' is the frequency, or weight factor. You would use the simple arithmetic mean in a simplified situation:
- different distance
- same time

The `time' weight factor has no impact on the average formula, since it factors itself out.

Liviu

farooq Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
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Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:48 am
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

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mp2437 Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
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Wed Oct 28, 2009 6:53 am
I say choice E. I am getting an answer of 4/9 km.

hkyoon Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
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Sun Mar 28, 2010 5:07 pm
Yes, I do too

2km/hr * 1/6 hr = 3/4 * Total Distance

eaakbari Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
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Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:39 am
Well its obviously E. How can a man take longer for 1/4th the distance than 3/4th of it

And great contribution Ashish. That sure was informative.
Just as an add on, I have attached for 3 speeds or greater too. Check it out

Uvin Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
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Fri Apr 29, 2011 10:14 am
a object travels on a strait line has V1 velocity for half of its journey. For the rest, it gets V2 velocity for the first half of the rest, and then V2 velocity for the other half. What is the average speed of the object ?
Can anybody help me with this question???
thank you!

tapanu Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Joined
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Wed May 04, 2011 5:15 am
Thanks Ashish !!!

_________________
The will to win is worthless if you do not have the will to prepare.

ajaygiri Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
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Tue Jul 12, 2011 2:22 pm
thank you ashish!

could not follow the ratio logic though, but the first one is crystal. thanks for the lucid explanation.

amit28it Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
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Sat Dec 24, 2011 3:43 am
achandwa wrote:
In problems that ask you to calculate total average speed, given the speed for onward and return trip, you could apply a formula or a neat trick to get to the answer faster. Lets derive the genral formula first and see how it applies it to couple of examples.

Say, a car travels at S1 mph on a trip and at S2 mph on return trip. What is its average speed for the entire trip?
Solution:
*** Don't fall in the trap of just averaging the 2 speeds. Overall average speed is not (S1+S2)/2. ***
Total average speed is simply = Total distance/Total time
Lets say,
D = distance travelled by the car in EACH direction
t1 = time spent on onward trip
t2 = time spent on return trip
Thus, the total distance travelled by the car = D+D= 2D
And, by the formula, Speed = Distance/Time
S1 = D/t1 => t1 = D/S1
S2 = D/t2 => t2 = D/S2
Total average speed = Total Distance/Total time = 2D/(t1+t2) = 2D/(D/S1+D/S2) = 2S1*S2/(S1+S2)

Remember this general formula for a total average speed problems:
Total average speed = 2S1*S2/(S1+S2)

Example:
A car travels at 60 mph on a trip and at 100 mph on return trip. What was its average speed for the entire trip?
Solution:
*** Total average speed is not (60+100)/2 = 80 ***
Total average speed = 2*60*100/(100+60) = 2*60*100/160 = 2*60*5/8 = 60*5/4 = 15*5 = 75

Alternatively, you may want to check if the following trick saves you some time.
Calculate the ratio of the speeds r1:r2. In our example it is 60:100 = 3:5
Then divide the difference between the speeds (s2-s1) by r1+r2 to get one part. In our example (100-60)/(3+5) = 5 is one part
The required answer is r1 parts away from the lower speed. That is, 60+r1*5 = 60+3*5 = 75 mph

Lets check how it works for S1=20 mph and S2=40 mph
Method 1:
Using the formula Total avg speed = 2S1*S2/(s1+s2)
= 2*20*40/(20+40)
= 2*20*40/60
= 80/3 = 26.67 mph
Method 2:
Ratio r1:r2 = 20:40 = 1:2
r1+r2 = 3
1 part = (S2-S1)/(r1+r2) = (40-20)/3 = 20/3 = 6.67
Total Avg speed is r1 parts away from smaller speed
Therefore avg speed = 20+ r1*6.67 = 20+1*6.67 = 26.67 mph

Hope you find this useful.
-Ashish
Yes Ashish it was really helpful .I was also having the same doubt in this question .It was not exactly same as it is .But in my question there is same logic as in this question .So i was able to solve my question and is able to know how to simplify ratios .Thanks for your support .

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