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Second-lap speed for a 60 mph average

Question

You drive one lap of a one-mile track at 3030 mph. How fast must you drive a second one-mile lap so that your average over both laps is 6060 mph?

Short answer

It is impossible. A 6060 mph average over 22 miles allows 22 minutes in total, but the first lap at 3030 mph already used 22 minutes. No finite speed on the second lap works.

Adapted from Joshi, Denson & Downes, Quant Job Interview Questions and Answers, Q8.6, p.276; question and answer rewritten by SelfMadeQuant.com.

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