A cyclist covers 120 km in 4 hours with equal walking and cycling segments. If cycling speed is 30 km/h and walking is 5 km/h, how many minutes did they spend cycling? - High Altitude Science
How Much Time Did the Cyclist Spend Cycling? Unlocking the Math Behind a 120 km Dual-Walk & Cycle Journey
How Much Time Did the Cyclist Spend Cycling? Unlocking the Math Behind a 120 km Dual-Walk & Cycle Journey
If you’ve ever wondered how time is split when someone covers 120 km using equal walking and cycling segments—like cycling for part of the distance and walking the rest—this article breaks down the physics and math behind the scenario. In one compelling example, a cyclist covers 120 kilometers in exactly 4 hours, alternating cycling and walking. With cycling speed at 30 km/h and walking at 5 km/h, how many minutes did they spend actually cycling?
Understanding the Context
The Challenge: 120 km in 4 Hours with Equal Segments
Imagine a cyclist who splits their journey into two equal parts: 60 km cycling and 60 km walking, resulting in a total time of 4 hours. With cycling speed at 30 km/h, and walking at 5 km/h, we want to calculate the exact time spent cycling.
Step 1: Calculate Time Cycling and Walking in Equal Distances
Key Insights
Let:
- Distance cycled = 60 km
- Distance walked = 60 km
- Cycling speed = 30 km/h
- Walking speed = 5 km/h
Time = Distance ÷ Speed
- Time spent cycling = 60 km ÷ 30 km/h = 2 hours
- Time spent walking = 60 km ÷ 5 km/h = 12 hours
Wait—this adds to 14 hours, not 4! So clearly, the equal distance assumption doesn’t match the time constraint.
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Step 2: Adjust for Total Time = 4 Hours
We know total time = 4 hours.
Let the distance cycled = x km
Then distance walked = 120 – x km
Time cycling = x ÷ 30
Time walking = (120 – x) ÷ 5
Total time:
(x/30) + ((120 – x)/5) = 4 hours
Now solve for x:
Multiply through by 30 to eliminate denominators:
x + 6(120 – x) = 120
Expand:
x + 720 – 6x = 120
Combine like terms:
-5x + 720 = 120
-5x = 120 – 720 = –600
