A Formula-1 race car is racing around a circular track, completing the first lap in 3 minutes with an average speed of 144 km/h. In what time must a second lap be driven in order for the average speed of the two laps to increase to 300 km/h?

first lap:
rate: 144
time: 3/60 = 1/20
distance: (1/20)(144) = 7.2 km

second lap:
distance: 7.2
rate: r
time: 7.2/r

average rate: (2*7.2)/(1/20 + 7.2/r) = 300

Solve for r.

:7

First lap: distance = speed x time
= 144 km/h x (3/60) hour
= 7.2 km

Therefore, total distance for the two laps = 7.2 x 2 km
= 14.4 km

To travel the 2 laps with an average speed of 300 km/h,
total time required = distance / speed
= 14.4/300 hours
= 14.4/300 x 60 minutes
= 2.88 minutes.

However, the time for the first lap is 3 minutes, which is already longer that the required time. Hence it's an impossible task to achieve.