The world record for the women's outdoor 20,000-meter run, set in 2000 by Tegla Loroupe, is 1:05:26.6 (seconds are given to the nearest tenth). What was her average speed, expressed in miles per hour with the correct number of significant figures? (Assume that the race distance is accurate to 5 significant figures)

Key Concepts

Unit Conversion

Unit conversion is the process of converting a quantity expressed in one set of units to another. In this question, we need to convert the distance of 20,000 meters to miles and the time of 1:05:26.6 to hours. Understanding how to perform these conversions accurately is essential for calculating the average speed in the desired units.

Average Speed Calculation

Average speed is defined as the total distance traveled divided by the total time taken. To find Tegla Loroupe's average speed, we will use the formula: average speed = distance/time. This concept is fundamental in physics and helps quantify how fast an object is moving over a specific distance.

Significant Figures

Significant figures are the digits in a number that contribute to its precision. When performing calculations, especially in scientific contexts, it is important to report results with the correct number of significant figures based on the precision of the measurements involved. In this case, the race distance is accurate to 5 significant figures, which will influence how we express the final average speed.