Problem:
The graph relates the distance traveled [in miles] to the time elapsed [in hours] on a trip taken by an experimental airplane. During which hour was the average speed of this airplane the largest?
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Answer Choices:
A. first
B. second
C. third
D. ninth
E. last
Solution:
The rate will the largest when the graph is the "steepest". During the second hour the distance traveled is about miles, so the average speed during that hour is about . For the other hours, the speeds are less than .
Answer: .
The problems on this page are the property of the MAA's American Mathematics Competitions