A car travels the first one-third of the distance at 20 km/h, the second one-third distance at 60 km/h, and the remaining distance at 30 km/h. What is its average speed?
Explanation
Method 1: Using the Direct Formula for Equal Distances
When a journey is divided into three equal distance intervals, each traveled at speeds v1, v2, and v3 respectively, the harmonic mean formula for average speed is:
Average Speed=v1⋅v2+v2⋅v3+v3⋅v13⋅v1⋅v2⋅v3
Given speeds:
v1=20 km/h
v2=60 km/h
v3=30 km/h
Substitute these values into the formula:
Average Speed=(20×60)+(60×30)+(30×20)3×20×60×30
Average Speed=1200+1800+600108000
Average Speed=3600108000
Average Speed=361080=30 km/h
Explanation
Method 1: Using the Direct Formula for Equal Distances
When a journey is divided into three equal distance intervals, each traveled at speeds v1, v2, and v3 respectively, the harmonic mean formula for average speed is:
Average Speed=v1⋅v2+v2⋅v3+v3⋅v13⋅v1⋅v2⋅v3
Given speeds:
v1=20 km/h
v2=60 km/h
v3=30 km/h
Substitute these values into the formula:
Average Speed=(20×60)+(60×30)+(30×20)3×20×60×30
Average Speed=1200+1800+600108000
Average Speed=3600108000
Average Speed=361080=30 km/h