Calculate the Average Speed: A Snail's Journey in Time and Distance

A snail crawls for 7 minutes at a speed of 4 cm per minute, rests for 3 minutes, then continues to crawl a further 30 cm in 12 minutes.

What is its average speed?

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1

Understand the problem

A snail crawls for 7 minutes at a speed of 4 cm per minute, rests for 3 minutes, then continues to crawl a further 30 cm in 12 minutes.

What is its average speed?

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we will calculate the average speed of the snail by considering both its movement and rest periods. The average speed is calculated using the formula:

Average speed=Total distanceTotal time\text{Average speed} = \frac{\text{Total distance}}{\text{Total time}}.

Let's break down the calculation:

  • Step 1: Calculate the distance covered during the first crawling period.
    The snail crawls at 4 cm/min for 7 minutes. Thus, the distance covered in this period is:

    4cm/min×7min=28cm4 \, \text{cm/min} \times 7 \, \text{min} = 28 \, \text{cm}.

  • Step 2: Note the rest period.
    The snail rests for 3 minutes. This time needs to be included in the total time calculation.

  • Step 3: Calculate the distance and time covered in the second crawling period.
    The snail crawls 30 cm in 12 minutes. Hence:

    Distance in this period is 30cm30 \, \text{cm}, and the time is 12min12 \, \text{min}.

  • Step 4: Calculate the total distance.
    Total distance = 28cm+30cm=58cm28 \, \text{cm} + 30 \, \text{cm} = 58 \, \text{cm}.

  • Step 5: Calculate the total time.
    Total time = 7min (crawling)+3min (rest)+12min (crawling)=22min7 \, \text{min (crawling)} + 3 \, \text{min (rest)} + 12 \, \text{min (crawling)} = 22 \, \text{min}.

  • Step 6: Calculate the average speed using the total distance and time.

    Average speed=58cm22min2.64cm/min\text{Average speed} = \frac{58 \, \text{cm}}{22 \, \text{min}} \approx 2.64 \, \text{cm/min}.

Therefore, the average speed of the snail is 2.642.64 cm per minute.

3

Final Answer

2.64 2.64 cm per minute

Practice Quiz

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What is the average speed according to the data?

TravelTimekm/hDistance3122.570400100210400250

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