Work out the average speed of the bus for the whole journey. The median of four consecutive counting numbers is 8½. Find the numbers.

The total distance (T.D.C) is given as 480 km.
The total time (T.T.T) is given as $(6+8+1)$ hours.

The average speed of the bus for the whole journey is $\boxed{\text{32 km/h}}$.

: The median of four consecutive counting numbers is $8\frac{1}{2}$. Find the numbers.

Let the four consecutive counting numbers be $n, n+1, n+2, n+3$.

For an even set of numbers, the median is the average of the two middle numbers. In this case, the middle numbers are $n+1$ and $n+2$.
The median is $\frac{(n+1) + (n+2)}{2}$.
We are given that the median is $8\frac{1}{2}$, which can be written as $\frac{17}{2}$.

Multiply both sides by 2:

Subtract 3 from both sides:

Divide by 2:

Substitute $n=7$ into our representations:

• First number: $n = 7$
• Second number: $n+1 = 7+1 = 8$
• Third number: $n+2 = 7+2 = 9$
• Fourth number: $n+3 = 7+3 = 10$ The four consecutive counting numbers are $\boxed{7, 8, 9, 10}$.