ASVAB · Averages and Statistics

A truck driver drove 320 miles in 4 hours, then 360 miles in 6 hours. What was the average speed over the entire trip?

Correct answer

68 mph

  1. A 60 mph
  2. B 68 mph
  3. C 65 mph
  4. D 70 mph

Why this is the answer

Average speed over entire trip = total distance / total time. Total distance: 320 + 360 = 680 miles. Total time: 4 + 6 = 10 hours. Average speed: 680/10 = 68 mph. Important: this is NOT the average of the two individual speeds! Speed 1: 320/4 = 80 mph; Speed 2: 360/6 = 60 mph. Simple average of speeds: (80 + 60)/2 = 70 mph — this is WRONG because the driver spent different amounts of time at each speed. Average speed must be calculated from total distance divided by total time, weighting each speed by its duration. This is a common ASVAB trick question. The principle applies to any 'weighted average' problem: a class average where different sections have different student counts, an investor's return over different periods with different amounts invested, etc. Always think: what does 'average' actually mean for this quantity? Distance ÷ time is the actual definition of average speed; it cannot be averaged any other way.
Source: ASVAB AR — Weighted Averages

Practice more questions

This question is from our ASVAB Practice Tests practice test. Take the full practice test to test your knowledge across all Averages and Statistics and other topics.

Take the Arithmetic Reasoning practice test →

About this topic: Averages and Statistics

Averages and statistics questions cover mean, median, mode and range, including working backwards from a known average to a missing value. Sort the data before finding a median, and remember the mean must lie between the smallest and largest values. This is one of 8 Arithmetic Reasoning questions on averages and statistics, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our ASVAB exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

Related questions