Final answer:
The average speed of the mail truck is calculated by dividing the distance it traveled, 82 miles, by the time taken, which is 4.12 hours, leading to an average speed of 19.9 miles per hour.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the average speed of the mail truck, we use the formula that states the distance is the product of the rate (speed) and the time. The question states that a mail truck traveled 82 miles in 412 hours. This seems to be a typo, as 412 hours is an impractical amount of time for a mail truck to be driving to cover only 82 miles. Assuming it is a mistake and it should be 4.12 hours which is a more reasonable time frame, we can proceed with the calculation:
Average Speed = Distance / Time
Distance = 82 miles
Time = 4.12 hours
Now, divide the distance by the time to find the average speed.
Average Speed = 82 miles / 4.12 hours
Average Speed = 19.9 miles per hour
To the nearest tenth, the average speed of the mail truck was 19.9 miles per hour.