# RE1 | meta/muse-spark-1.1 | run 1

## Prompt

A train travels 240 miles in 3 hours, then 180 miles in 2 hours. What is its average speed for the entire trip? Show your work.

## Response

The train's average speed for the entire trip is **84 mph**.

Average speed is not the average of the two speeds, it is total distance divided by total time.

## Solution Steps

The formula for average speed is:
\[ \text{Average Speed} = \frac{\text{Total Distance}}{\text{Total Time}} \]

**1. Total Distance**
\[ \text{Total Distance} = 240 \text{ miles} + 180 \text{ miles} = 420 \text{ miles} \]

**2. Total Time**
\[ \text{Total Time} = 3 \text{ hours} + 2 \text{ hours} = 5 \text{ hours} \]

**3. Average Speed**
\[ \text{Average Speed} = \frac{420 \text{ miles}}{5 \text{ hours}} = 84 \text{ mph} \]

So even though the train went 80 mph for the first leg and 90 mph for the second leg, its overall average is 84 mph.

Want to try the same problem with kilometers and a third leg added?
