Thank you so much, Ms. Sue. Is this correct? A family backpacking at yosemite took 5 hours to climb a mountain trail 7.5 km long. What was the family's average speed? I did it like this. speed=7.5km/5h = 1.5km over h. Is this right? Thank you - why am i so confused it seems easy, but i get mixed up
Yes, you're right -- and you're welcome.
I'm not a math teacher and I often am confused about how to solve a problem. However, I usually can estimate the answer. For instance if the trail were 5 km long, then obviously their average speed is 1 km per hour. So your answer of 1.5 km per hour for a longer trail must be right.
Yes, your approach is correct, but let me break it down step-by-step for better understanding.
To find the average speed, you need to divide the total distance traveled by the total time taken. Here's how you can calculate it:
Step 1: Write down the given information:
- Distance traveled: 7.5 km
- Time taken: 5 hours
Step 2: Use the formula for average speed:
Average Speed = Total Distance / Total Time
Step 3: Substitute the values into the formula:
Average Speed = 7.5 km / 5 hours
Step 4: Calculate the average speed:
Average Speed = 1.5 km/hour
So, the correct average speed of the family while backpacking in Yosemite is 1.5 km/hour.
It's normal to feel confused sometimes, even with seemingly simple problems. Sometimes, overthinking or getting caught up in small details can lead to mix-ups. Just remember to break down the problem step-by-step, and you'll find it easier to understand and solve.
You're very welcome! While your approach was on the right track, there was a small error in your calculation. Let's go through the steps to find the correct answer and hopefully clear up any confusion.
To find the average speed, we need to divide the distance traveled by the time taken. In this case, the family backpacking at Yosemite covered a distance of 7.5 km in 5 hours. So the correct calculation should be:
Average speed = Distance / Time
Average speed = 7.5 km / 5 h
To simplify the calculation, we can divide the distance by the time. So:
Average speed = 7.5 km / 5 h
Average speed = 1.5 km/h
Thus, the family's average speed was 1.5 kilometers per hour.
If you've been feeling confused, it's completely normal to get mixed up when dealing with different units and calculations. It happens to the best of us. Taking it step by step and understanding the key concepts involved can help in unraveling the confusion.