A truck driver traveled at an average speed of 55 miles per hour on a 200 mile trip to pick up a load of freight. On the return trip(with the truck fully loaded), the average speed was 40miles per hour. What was the average speed for the round trip?

Average speed = total distance traveled/total time taken

time for first leg of trip =200/55 hrs
time for second leg of trip = 200/40 hours

so average speed = 400/(200/55 + 200/40)
=46.3 mph

To find the overall average speed for the round trip, we can use the formula: Average Speed = Total Distance / Total Time.

First, let's calculate the total distance of the round trip. The truck traveled 200 miles to pick up the freight, and then it traveled an additional 200 miles back to the starting point. So, the total distance is 200 + 200 = 400 miles.

Next, let's find the total time taken for the round trip. To do this, we need to calculate the individual times for each leg of the trip and add them together.

For the outbound trip, we know that the average speed was 55 miles per hour. So, the time taken for the outbound trip can be calculated as Distance / Speed = 200 miles / 55 miles per hour.

Similarly, for the return trip, we know that the average speed was 40 miles per hour. So, the time taken for the return trip can be calculated as Distance / Speed = 200 miles / 40 miles per hour.

Now, let's calculate the individual times:

Time taken for the outbound trip = 200 miles / 55 miles per hour = 3.63 hours (rounded to two decimal places).
Time taken for the return trip = 200 miles / 40 miles per hour = 5 hours.

Finally, let's find the total time for the round trip by adding the individual times:

Total time for the round trip = Time for outbound trip + Time for return trip = 3.63 hours + 5 hours = 8.63 hours (rounded to two decimal places).

Now, we can calculate the average speed for the round trip using the formula Average Speed = Total Distance / Total Time:

Average Speed = 400 miles / 8.63 hours = 46.34 miles per hour (rounded to two decimal places).

Therefore, the average speed for the round trip is 46.34 miles per hour.

To find the average speed for the round trip, you need to calculate the total distance traveled and divide it by the total time taken.

First, let's find the time taken for each leg of the trip:

Time taken for the outbound trip:
Distance = 200 miles
Average speed = 55 miles per hour
Time = Distance / Speed = 200 miles / 55 miles per hour = 3.636 hours (rounded to 3 decimal places)

Time taken for the return trip:
Distance = 200 miles
Average speed = 40 miles per hour
Time = Distance / Speed = 200 miles / 40 miles per hour = 5 hours

Now, let's calculate the total distance for the round trip:
Total distance = Distance of outbound trip + Distance of return trip = 200 miles + 200 miles = 400 miles

Next, calculate the total time taken for the round trip:
Total time = Time taken for outbound trip + Time taken for return trip = 3.636 hours + 5 hours = 8.636 hours (rounded to 3 decimal places)

Finally, calculate the average speed for the round trip:
Average speed = Total distance / Total time = 400 miles / 8.636 hours = 46.283 miles per hour (rounded to 3 decimal places)

Therefore, the average speed for the round trip is approximately 46.283 miles per hour.