SOLUTION: You walk fro your home to the post office at an average rate of 3 mph. You then walk back at an average rate of 5 mph. What is the average rate for your entire trip?

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Question 384928: You walk fro your home to the post office at an average rate of 3 mph. You then walk back at an average rate of 5 mph. What is the average rate for your entire trip?
Found 2 solutions by ewatrrr, richard1234:
Answer by ewatrrr(24785) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Hi,         

Note:  Distance traveled at each speed is the same.

Average speed for the entire trip:  (3mph + 5mph) / 2 = 4mph

Answer by richard1234(7193) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Suppose the walk was 15 miles each way (the distance doesn't matter, we can pick x miles if we wish). That means it takes 5 hours to walk there and 3 hours to walk back. You went 30 miles total, so the average speed is (30 miles)/(8 hours) = 3.75 mph.