A motorist travel to a place 150 km away at an avearge speed of 50 km/hr and…

2024

A motorist travel to a place 150 km away at an avearge speed of 50 km/hr and returns ar 30 km/hr.His average speed for the whole jouney in km/hr is

  1. A.

    36.5 km/hr

  2. B.

    37.5 km/hr

  3. C.

    35.5 km/hr

  4. D.

    34.5 km/hr

Attempted by 5 students.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B

Step-by-Step Solution

When a motorist travels to a destination at one speed and returns over the same distance at a different speed, the average speed for the entire journey is the harmonic mean of the two speeds.

  1. Identify the speeds:

    • Speed going (x) = 50 km/hr.

    • Speed returning (y) = 30 km/hr.

  2. Apply the Average Speed Formula: For two equal distances, the formula for average speed is: Average Speed = (2 * x * y) / (x + y)

  3. Calculate the value:

    • Average Speed = (2 * 50 * 30) / (50 + 30)

    • Average Speed = 3000 / 80

    • Average Speed = 37.5 km/hr.

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