SOLUTION: A man runs 200 yards East and then turns around and runs 50 yards West in 35 seconds what is the man's average velocity for this trip ? I added the yards 200 yard+50 yard = 250 ya

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Question 1182366: A man runs 200 yards East and then turns around and runs 50 yards West in 35 seconds what is the man's average velocity for this trip ?
I added the yards 200 yard+50 yard = 250 yards then divided 250/35 . Is this correct
Found 2 solutions by math_tutor2020, ikleyn:
Answer by math_tutor2020(3817) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Yes you are correct. The fraction you formed then becomes approximately 7.143 yards per second.

Answer by ikleyn(52925) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.


            This problem  TEACHES  you  to distinct  between  average velocity  and  average speed

            (which in this problem is the same as average rate).


To calculate average speed  (or average rate),  you should take the total traveled distance and divide it by the full spent traveled time.


But  THIS  PROBLEM  asks about the average velocity.

Velocity is the vector,  in distinct of speed and of rate.

To calculate average velocity,  you should take the  displacement vector  and divide it by the full spent traveled time.



        In this problem,  the displacement is  THE  DIFFERENCE   200 yards   MINUS   50 yards = 200 - 50 = 150 yards

                                and you should divide it by  35  seconds.



So,  the average velocity magnitude is   %28200-50%29%2F35 = 150%2F35 = 4.286 yards per second.             ANSWER

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Solved and explained.