How to Calculate Average Speed

Questions on Time, Speed & Distance are asked in Quantitative Aptitude or Numerical Ability sections of
exams like SBI Clerk, SBI PO, SSC CGL, Railway RRB, LIC AAO, IBPS Clerk, IBPS RRB, IBPS PO etc. Often
times, these questions have to do with finding out Average Speed. In order to calculate Average Speed,
we must understand the concept of speed and why it doesnt work like your regular averages.
Average Speed looks like a simple enough topic, but somehow the rules of your regular averages dont
apply. The term Average then becomes confusing. We all know the formula for average we learnt in
school:
(Sum of Entities)

Average = (Number of Entities)

But in the case of Average Speed it is not equal to average of all the speeds. Then how do we calculate
it? Lets take a look.

Average Speed
The average speed of an object tells you the (average) rate at which it covers a certain distance while its
speed at different times may have been different. Average speed is a measure of the distance traveled
in a given period of time; it is sometimes referred to as the distance per time ratio.
Avg. Speed =
Avg Speed =

Total distance covered

Time taken

d1 +d2 +d3 ++dn

t1 +t2 +t3 ++tn

Avg. Speed =

Dtotal
Ttotal

The Average Speed formula helps you to calculate the average speed for the set of different distances
d1, d2..... dn if their corresponding different time intervals t1, t2,....tn are given.
Let us look at this using a problem. Say, a car travels at S1 mph on a trip in t1 time and at S2 mph on
return trip in t2 time. What is its average speed for the entire trip?
For this type of problems, don't fall in the trap of just averaging the 2 speeds even if the times t1 and t2
are the same. The overall average speed is NOT

1 +2
2

Total average speed is simply = Total distance / Total time

i.e. Avg. Speed =

(S1 t1 ) + (S2 t2 )
t1 +t2

21 2
1 +2

Tip: This is for 2 speeds. You can extend this to 3 speeds like this:
Avg. Speed =

(S1 t1 ) + (S2 t2 )+(S3 3 )

t1 + t2 +3

31 2 3

1 2 + 2 3 +1 3

Notice, that this then becomes the formula for harmonic mean. Average speed is not the arithmetic
mean but the harmonic mean.

Example of Average Speed

Let us understand this concept using an example.
Q. In travelling from Mumbai to Goa, Moumita drove for 1 hour at 50 mph and for 3 hours at 60 mph.
What was her average speed for the whole trip?
1) 50.0 mph
2) 53.5 mph

3) 55.5 mph
4) 56.0 mph
5) 57.5 mph
Ans: 5) 57.5 mph
Solution: As we know that, Distance = Speed Time
So, in 1 hour, distance covered = 50 1 = 50 miles
In next 3 hours, distance covered = 60 3 = 180 miles
Total distance covered = 50 + 180 = 230 miles
Total Time = 1 + 3 = 4 hrs
We know that,
Avg. Speed =

Total distance covered

Time taken

Avg. Speed = 230/4 = 57.5 mph

Note: Here Average speed will not be simply (50+60)/2 = 55.5mph

Now Try It Yourself

Q. A car travels the first one-third of a certain distance with a speed of 10 km/hr, the next one-third
distance with a speed of 20 km/hr, the last one-third distance with a speed of 60 km/hr. The average
speed of the car for the whole journey is:
1) 20 kmph
2) 18 kmph
3) 30 kmph
4) 25 kmph
5) None of these

Ans: 2) 18 kmph
Solution: Let the whole distance be x km.
As we know that, Time = Distance/Speed

Time taken for the initial one-third distance =

Time taken for the next one-third distance =
Time taken for the last one-third distance =

10

20

60

= 30

60

= 180

10

Total time taken to cover the whole distance = 30 + 60 + 180 = 180

Avg. Speed =

Total distance covered

Time taken

Avg. Speed =

10
180

= 18 km/hr

Note: Here Average speed will not be simply (10+20+60)/3 = 30 kmph

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