Question

To calculate average race speed, should I A) average the times and convert that single time figure to a speed, or should I B) convert each race time to a speeds and then average the speeds?

Answer 1

To calculate the average race speed, you should option B) convert each race time to speeds and then average the speeds. Averaging the speeds directly will provide a more accurate representation of the average race speed compared to averaging the times and converting that single time figure to a speed.

Here's how you can approach it:

1. Convert each race time to speed: Divide the distance of the race by the corresponding time for each race. For example, if the distance is in kilometers and the time is in hours, divide the distance by the time to get the speed in kilometers per hour (km/h) for each race.

2. Calculate the average speed: Add up all the individual speeds and then divide the total by the number of races. This will give you the average race speed.

By averaging the speeds, you account for any variations in race distances, allowing for a more meaningful and accurate representation of the average race speed. Averaging the times first and then converting to a speed might not accurately reflect the true average speed, especially if the race distances vary.