Study Skills
Seconds per word
The inverse rate, useful when a passage is short or when a target is expressed in seconds rather than in words.
The Formula
seconds per word = 60 / wpm
The inverse rate, useful when a passage is short or when a target is expressed in seconds rather than in words.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| s | Seconds per word | number | Time taken on an average single word. |
| r | Rate | number | Words per minute, as measured. |
What Each Symbol Means
snumber
Seconds per word
Time taken on an average single word.
rnumber
Rate
Words per minute, as measured.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate words per minute 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 Words Per Minute, filed under Education. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.