How to Calculate Distance Traveled by a Cyclist: A Step-by-Step Guide

Emily rides her bike at a constant speed of 25 kilometers per hour (km/h). The question is: how far can she travel in 3 hours? Let's break this down step by step to make the calculation process clear and easy.

Understanding the Problem

To determine the distance traveled, we need to multiply Emily's speed (25 km/h) by the time she spends cycling (3 hours). Simple multiplication is all we need here!

Step-by-Step Calculation

The calculation is straightforward:

Emily's speed: 25 km/h Time: 3 hours Distance Speed × Time 25 km/h × 3 h

Performing the multiplication:

25 × 3 75 km

So, Emily can travel 75 kilometers in 3 hours.

Alternative Methods for Conversion

Now, let's consider an alternative method for converting Emily's speed from kilometers per hour to miles per hour, and then calculate the distance in miles.

Converting Speed from km/h to mph

1 kilometer (km) is approximately equal to 0.621371 miles. Therefore, to convert Emily's speed from kilometers per hour to miles per hour:

Emily's speed: 25 km/h Conversion factor: 0.621371 miles/km Speed in mph: 25 km/h × 0.621371 miles/km ≈ 15.534275 mph

Now, using the converted speed, we can calculate the distance traveled in 3 hours:

Distance in miles Speed in mph × Time 15.534275 mph × 3 h Distance in miles 46.602825 miles

Approximating, Emily can travel approximately 47 miles in 3 hours.

Additional Considerations

While the calculation itself is accurate, there are additional factors to consider when cycling:

Is it raining? Paved roads may be slippery. Is it daytime or nighttime? Visibility can affect safety. Is the road a paved car road or a special bike path? Different terrain affects speed. Is Mercury in retrograde? (This is a joke, but it might affect your journey!) Is she wearing a helmet? Safety is always a priority. Is the moon visible? (No direct impact on cycling but can affect visibility for others.) What star sign is Emily? (This is also a joke and has no direct impact on cycling but is fun to consider!)

These factors, while not necessary for the pure calculation, can greatly impact the safety and practicality of a cycling trip.

Method 2: Alternative Distance Measurement

An alternative method to calculate the distance traveled is to:

Find a car with Canadian license plates. It's harder now due to COVID-19 as the speedometer will be in kilometers per hour.

Get permission from the owner to borrow the car or hotwire it (this is just a joke! Do not actually consider this option).

Drive for 3 hours at 20 kilometers per hour.

Take out your smartphone and use Google Maps to measure the distance to your starting point in miles.

Alternatively, you can use Google to find out how to convert kilometers to miles.

This method provides a practical way to verify the calculated distance with real-world measurements.