Connor sprinted 55 yards in 6.25 seconds. What was Connor's average speed in miles per hour?

Rationale

Connor's average speed was 18 miles per hour.

To find Connor's average speed, we convert the distance he sprinted from yards to miles and the time from seconds to hours. The calculations reveal that his average speed is 18 miles per hour.

A (6) YOUR ANSWER

Calculating an average speed of 6 miles per hour would imply that Connor sprinted much slower than he actually did. This answer would be obtained by miscalculating the conversion of yards to miles or the time in seconds to hours, leading to a significant underestimation of his speed.

B (9) YOUR ANSWER

An average speed of 9 miles per hour suggests a relatively slow pace for a sprint, which does not align with the time taken or the distance covered. This answer likely results from an incorrect conversion of the distance or an error in time calculation.

C (15) YOUR ANSWER

While 15 miles per hour is a more reasonable sprinting speed than the previous options, it still inaccurately represents Connor's performance. This choice might stem from a miscalculation in converting yards to miles or a misunderstanding of the time conversion from seconds to hours.

D (18) CORRECT

This is the correct calculation based on converting 55 yards into miles and 6.25 seconds into hours. Connor's speed is derived from the formula: speed = distance/time, leading to an accurate average speed of 18 miles per hour, reflecting a typical sprinting pace.

E (26) YOUR ANSWER

An average speed of 26 miles per hour is unreasonably high for a human sprint, suggesting a major miscalculation in either the distance or time. This result would imply an exceptional performance that exceeds typical human capabilities in a sprint.

Conclusion

Connor's average speed of 18 miles per hour, calculated from his sprint of 55 yards in 6.25 seconds, accurately reflects his athletic performance. The other options either underestimate or overestimate his speed due to errors in unit conversion or improper calculations. Understanding average speed helps contextualize athletic performance in measurable terms, emphasizing the importance of accurate calculations in deriving meaningful conclusions.