What is the formula for calculating speed?

The formula for calculating speed is defined as the distance traveled divided by the time taken to travel that distance. This means that to find the average speed of an object, you take the total distance it has moved over a certain period and divide it by the amount of time it took to cover that distance. This relationship can be represented mathematically as Speed = distance/time.

Understanding this formula is crucial in traffic enforcement as it helps law enforcement officers estimate how fast a vehicle is moving based on the distance a vehicle travels within a specific time frame. For example, if a vehicle travels 100 miles in 2 hours, using the formula, you would calculate the speed as 100 miles/2 hours, resulting in a speed of 50 miles per hour.

The other formulas presented do not accurately represent the relationship between distance, time, and speed. Speed cannot be calculated by multiplying distance and time, or by adding them, as these operations do not provide a ratio that reflects how fast an object is moving. Similarly, dividing time by distance does not yield a meaningful measure of speed.