Susan drove an average speed of 30 miles per hour for the

Your reasoning is correct. Probably the answer is incorrect unless you have not changed either the question or the answer.

Avg. speed = total distance / total time

Total distance = 60 miles
Total time = 30 / 30 + 30/60 = 3/2

Avg. speed = 40.

Answer - B

My approach:

30/30 -> 1h
30/60 -> 0.5h
---------1.5h total and then 60/1.5 -> 40 (1.5 -> 3 -> 4.5 -> 6)

Susan drove an average speed of 30 miles per hour for the first 30 miles of a trip & then at a average speed of 60 miles/hr for the remaining 30 miles of the trip if she made no stops during the trip what was susan's avg speed in miles/hr for the entire trip

What we have here are equal distances for both segments.

First segment: 30 miles/hour and covered 30 miles, therefore it took one hour.
Second segment: 60 miles/hour and covered 30 miles, therefore it took 1/2 hour.

(Total distance / total time)
(60 / [1hr+ 1/2hr])
(60 / 1.5) = 40 miles avg. speed.

A. 35
B. 40
C. 45
D. 50
E. 55

(B)

When don't we simply add the distances/speeds together to get the average?

Rate x Time = Distance
Going: 30 x 1 = 30
Returning: 30 x .5 = 30

Avg speed = Total distance/Total Time
=(30+30)/ (1+.5)
=40

Nice method, but why should it be 10 away from the lower speed and not from the higher speed?

Why can't we get her average speed by weighting her speed by the proportion of the total distance realized at a certain speed?

e.g. why is 30(30/60)+60(30/60)=15+30 incorrect?

Thank you please let me know if i haven't been clear enough

Hi Bunuel,

I don't know if this approach is right. I got the answer though

distance = speed x time
60 = (30 + 60) x time
60 = 90 x time
60/90 = time
2/3 multiplied by 60 = 40

Therefore, the answer is B. Is my approach correct?

No, that;'s not correct.


Distance = Average Speed * Time.

Distance = 60;
Time = 30/30 + 30/60 = 3/2 hours;

60 = Average Speed * 3/2

Average Speed = 40.

We are given that Susan drove at an average speed of 30 miles per hour for the first 30 miles of a trip and then at an average speed of 60 miles per hour for the remaining 30 miles of the trip. We must determine her average speed overall. The formula for average speed is:

average speed = total distance/total time

For the first half of the trip, we know that Susan’s speed was 30 mph and her distance was 30 miles, so her time was 30/30 = 1 hour.

For the second half of the trip, we know that Susan’s speed was 60 mph and her distance was 30 miles, so her time was 30/60 = 1/2 hour. Therefore her average speed in miles per hour is:

average speed = (30 + 30)/(1 + ½)

average speed = 60/(3/2)

average speed = 40

Answer: B

30 miles/ Hour speed for 30 miles => Time Takem = 1 Hr.
60 miles/Hour Speed for remaining 30 miles => Time taken = 0.5 Hour.

Avg Speed = 60/(1+0.5) = 40 mph.

Susan drove an average speed of 30 miles per hour for the first 30 miles of a trip & then at a average speed of 60 miles/hr for the remaining 30 miles of the trip if she made no stops during the trip what was susan's avg speed in miles/hr for the entire trip

A. 35
B. 40
C. 45
D. 50
E. 55

Sol: Average Speed = Total Distance/Total time
Total Distance = 30 miles + 30 miles = 60 miles
Total time = Time taken for the 1st 30 miles + time taken for the next 30 miles
= (30miles/30mph) + (30 miles/60 mph)
= (1 + 0.5) hours
= 1.5 hours

Average speed = Total Distance/Total time = 60/1.5 = 40 mph
The answer is (B).

Time taken in travelling 1st 30 miles = 30/30 = 1 hr
Time taken in travelling remaining 30 miles = 30/60 = 1/2 hr
Total distance traveled = 30+30 = 60 miles
Total time taken = 1+1/2 = 3/2 hr
Average speed = \(\frac{60}{(3/2)}\) = 40 miles/hr

Here is a very easy formula to remember:

Let a be the first speed
Let b be the second speed

Avg Speed = 2ab/a+b

a = 30
b= 60

Avg Speed = 2(30)(60)/30+60 = 3600/90 = 40

Hi All,

To figure out Average Speed for an entire trip, we need TOTAL Distance and TOTAL Time:

Total Distance = (Average Speed)(Total Time)

Here, we're given all of the numerical information we need to calculate each part of the journey:

1st part: 30 miles/hour for 30 miles

30 miles = (30mph)(Time)
30/30 = T hours
T = 1 hour

2nd part: 60 miles/hour for 30 miles
30 miles = (60mph)(Time)
30/60 = T hours
T = 1/2 hour

Total Distance = 30 + 30 = 60 miles
Total Time = 1 + 1/2 = 1.5 hours

Using these values, we can plug in and find the Average Speed for the entire trip:

60 miles = (Average Speed)(1.5 hours)
60/1.5 = Average Speed

Average Speed = 40 mph

Final Answer:

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

but i think av should be closer to the 60

It's not clear what you are trying to say. The average speed is 40 miles per hour as shown in all solutions above. Do you have any questions?