A bus travels 222 miles in 6 hours. What was the average speed of the bus
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
To find the average speed, use the formula: Average speed=Total distanceTotal time=222 miles6 hours=37 miles per hour\text{Average speed} = \frac{\text{Total distance}}{\text{Total time}} = \frac{222 \text{ miles}}{6 \text{ hours}} = 37 \text{ miles per hour}
So, the average speed of the bus is 37 miles per hour (mph).
Explanation
Understanding average speed is a fundamental concept in mathematics and everyday life. Average speed describes how fast something is moving over a period of time. It is calculated by dividing the total distance traveled by the total time taken to travel that distance. The formula can be written as: Average speed=DistanceTime\text{Average speed} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Time}}
In this problem, a bus travels a total of 222 miles over a period of 6 hours. By applying the formula, we divide 222 by 6: 2226=37\frac{222}{6} = 37
This means the bus traveled an average of 37 miles for every hour it was moving.
It’s important to understand that average speed does not tell us if the bus was moving at the same speed the entire time. The actual speed of the bus could have varied during the journey. For example, it might have gone faster on highways and slower through towns or during traffic. However, the average speed gives us a useful overall measure of how quickly the trip was completed.
This calculation is especially useful for estimating travel time or planning trips. For instance, if another trip is 148 miles and we expect the same average speed of 37 mph, we can estimate the time it will take by rearranging the formula: Time=DistanceSpeed=14837=4 hours\text{Time} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Speed}} = \frac{148}{37} = 4 \text{ hours}
Knowing how to calculate and interpret average speed is helpful not only in academics but also in real-world situations like transportation, logistics, and even exercise planning.
