A runner covers 3 miles in 20 minutes and 4 miles in the next 20 minutes. What is the average pace per mile for the 40-minute run?

A runner covers 3 miles in 20 minutes and 4 miles in the next 20 minutes. What is the average pace per mile for the 40-minute run?

• A. 6.0 minutes per mile
• B. 5.71 minutes per mile
• C. 5.5 minutes per mile
• D. 6.1 minutes per mile

Answer: (B)

The pace you’re looking for is the total time divided by the total distance. You ran 7 miles in 40 minutes, so the average pace is 40 ÷ 7 ≈ 5.714 minutes per mile, which rounds to 5.71 minutes per mile. This weighted approach matters: if you averaged the two segment paces (roughly 6.67 and 5.00 min/mile) you’d get a different number, because the slower first portion doesn’t carry as much distance as the faster second portion. Here, 7 miles at 40 minutes gives the correct, weighted average pace.

The pace you’re looking for is the total time divided by the total distance. You ran 7 miles in 40 minutes, so the average pace is 40 ÷ 7 ≈ 5.714 minutes per mile, which rounds to 5.71 minutes per mile. This weighted approach matters: if you averaged the two segment paces (roughly 6.67 and 5.00 min/mile) you’d get a different number, because the slower first portion doesn’t carry as much distance as the faster second portion. Here, 7 miles at 40 minutes gives the correct, weighted average pace.