Calculate Average Speed Converting Units

In this worksheet, students will work out simple average speeds when given distance in a fraction of an hour

Key stage: KS 3

Year: Year 9 Maths worksheets

Curriculum topic: Ratio, Proportion and Rates of Change

Curriculum subtopic: Solve Problems Involving Compound Units

Difficulty level:

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Worksheet Overview

In this activity, we are working out average speed but the questions may require a change in units.

What does that mean?

Well, let's recap working out speed first!

Recap

Speed is a measure of distance in relation to time.

For example, a common one is the speed of a car. It is measured in mph or miles per hour or km/h kilometres per hour.

Example

What is the average speed of a car which travels 80 miles in 2 hours?

Answer

If the car travels 80 miles in 2 hours, we want to know how far it has travelled in 1 hour for the average speed.

80 ÷ 2 = 40 miles in 1 hour

Therefore, the average speed is 40 mph.

Let's say that instead of giving us the distance in hours it was given in minutes!

question mark

Example

Calculate the average speed a a car which travels 25 miles in 30 mins.

Answer

In the previous question, we were given 2 hours, so we divided the distance by 2.

This time, the car covers 25 miles in 30 mins so to get this to 1 hour we have to multiply by 2 (because there are 2 x 30 mins in 1 hour).

25 miles x 2 = 50 miles in 1 hour

Average speed = 50 mph

a red car

Let's have a go at some questions!

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Preview activity

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