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suesie970
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SoniaSaini
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suesie970
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khushboochhabra
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suesie the formula you are referring to - 2ab/(a+b) is derived from Harmonic mean.. As we know that average speed of two speed S1 and S2 is not a AM.. But interestingly it's HM.. So if a vehicle moves with a speed of S1 and S2, covering same distance(you need to be sure of this to apply the HM formula) then you can quickly use the HM formula i.e. 2ab/(a+b)
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ksan8228
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SoniaSaini
suesie970
I know that average speed = total distance / total time

But can someone explain another formula I've found on this site:

average speed = (2ab)/(a+b)
a and b represent the average speed of each trip

Where does this come from?

Thanks!

Hi Sonia,

Say, I have traveled a distance of 'X' in 'A' kmph and 'Y' in 'B' kmph respectively.

I now have two 'time' values i.e.
X/A---------------(1)
Y/B---------------(2)

Total distance traveled by me = X+Y

Total time taken by me (1)+(2)

i.e. (BX+AY)/(AB)-----------------------------------------*/ I took the LCM /*

Avg Speed = Total distance traveled by me / Total time taken by me

= X+Y / (BX+AY)/(AB)

= (X+Y)AB / (AY+BX)-----------------------------/This is the final formula to find average speed if the distances are different i.e. X<>Y [X is not equal to Y] /

If X=Y

Average speed = (2X)(AB) / (AX+BX) = 2AB/(A+B) ----------------- /Formula of finding average if X=Y/
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Ajithkumar917
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It's superb I am really confused in average velocity formula yet.but when I came to this website I am cleared my doubt by above formula explanation thank you so much

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