Average MPH on my way to work using Public Transportation

Today, I would like to explore the rate at which one gets around New York City. I travel to work each day via subway, and I have always wondered what my average speed over the distance of my home to my office. According to www.hopstop.com, my work is exactly 2.58 miles from my home, taking the route it recommends, which happens to be the exact route that I take.

It says:

Walk 0.19 miles to the subway stop.

Travel 2.24 miles on the subway.

Walk 0.15 miles to my office.

It takes me around 25 minutes to make the full trip. How fast am I going?

Well this problem will resemble the last ones we did with percentages. We are looking for miles per hour which can also be stated like this:

Miles

———

Hour

How many miles will it be in one hour if 2.58 miles takes 25 minutes?

2.58 X

——– = ——–

25 60

Cross-multiply and we get:

25x = 60(2.58)

Simplify.

25x = 154.8

Divide both sides by 25.

X = 6.192

I travel at a rate of about 6.2 miles per hour to work. That might not seem like much but it is around twice the speed at which the average person walks. It is also a VERY short commute for living in Manhattan. Also, I am utilizing public transportation and not driving myself, thereby helping the environment.

CD