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-- 48 miles per hour, so let's say the trip took 1 hour (traveled 48 miles there, and 48 miles back)
-- Trip took 2 hours coming back, because it is twice as long
-- Equation: speed = distance/time d = 96, t = 3; 96/3 = 32
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my first attempt was a follows:

d is the distance and t is the time at 48mph --> d=48t --> t=d/48

since it took twice as long on the way back, means the speed is 24 mph
this means: d=24(2t)--> d=48t --> t=d/48

avg speed is total distance/total time --> 2d/(d/48+d/48) giving an answer of 48 mph

can anyone point out flaw in my logic?
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Bunuel
A car traveled from San Diego to San Francisco at an average speed of 48 miles per hour. If the journey back took twice as long, what was the average speed of the trip?

A. 24.
B. 32.
C. 36.
D. 42.
E. 44.


another way to looking into the problem, and in fact, I have tried the problem this way

since, the "journey back" took twice as long, then, the the speed of "journey back" was half that of "journey to"

thus, since the speed of "journey to" was 48 mph, the speed of "return" was 24 mph

and, since, the distance is same, harmonic mean can be applied to averaging the speed

2 x 48 x 24
___________
48 + 24

= 32 = B, the answer

thanks and cheers
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Given: A car traveled from San Diego to San Francisco at an average speed of 48 miles per hour.
Asked: If the journey back took twice as long, what was the average speed of the trip?

Let the distance between San Diego to San Francisco be 480 miles
Total distance = 480 *2 = 960 miles
Total time taken = 10 + 20 = 30 hours
Average speed = 960 / 30 = 32 mph

IMO B
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Bunuel
A car traveled from San Diego to San Francisco at an average speed of 48 miles per hour. If the journey back took twice as long, what was the average speed of the trip?

A. 24.
B. 32.
C. 36.
D. 42.
E. 44.

onward journey speed 48 mph
and rtrn speed ; 24mph because time taken is twice so speed must be half of onward
avg speed ; 2 *48*24/72
option B 32
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Given

    • A car traveled from San Diego to San Francisco at an average speed of 48 miles per hour.
    • Travelling back took twice as long.

To Find

    • The average speed.

Approach and Working Out

    • Speed of the forward journey = 48 mph.
    • Speed while coming back = 48/2 = 24mph.
      o The time taken is double so speed will be half.
    • Let the distance be a common multiple of 48 and 24 = 48k miles.
      o Time taken for forward journey= 48k/48 = k hours.
      o Time taken for coming back = 48k/24 = 2k
    • Total distance = 48k + 48k = 96 k
    • Total time = 3k
      o Average speed = 96k/3k = 32.

Correct Answer: Option B
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