Travel
Consumption in litres per 100 kilometres
Divide the fuel burned by the distance it covered, then scale to 100 kilometres so the figure is comparable across trips of any length.
The Formula
L/100km = litres / distance x 100
Divide the fuel burned by the distance it covered, then scale to 100 kilometres so the figure is comparable across trips of any length.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| d | Distance covered | kilometres | The interval between two full fills, in kilometres. |
| V | Fuel burned | litres | The litres added at the second fill, matching that distance. |
| L/100km | Consumption | litres per 100 km | Litres per 100 kilometres — an inverse measure, so lower is better. |
What Each Symbol Means
dkilometres
Distance covered
The interval between two full fills, in kilometres.
Vlitres
Fuel burned
The litres added at the second fill, matching that distance.
L/100kmlitres per 100 km
Consumption
Litres per 100 kilometres — an inverse measure, so lower is better.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate gas mileage page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate Gas Mileage, filed under Everyday Life. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.