<p>I'm not really against on Javier answer but i think it's still complex for a beginner to understand it. </p>

<p>Maybe give a realistic example of mining. "Real mining also takes time before you produce pure minerals out of stones which is the same with bitcoin mining, it takes some time before you receive fees from processing transactions."</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-09T08:42:33.713Z
2016-06-09T08:42:33.713Z
user37479
<p>Block time is a tradeoff between:</p>

<ul>
<li>Network propagation time </li>
<li>Amount of work wasted due to chain splits (miners continuing to work on the last block before becoming aware a new one was found)</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-05T14:38:03.407Z
2016-06-05T14:38:03.407Z
Javier
<p>I'm often asked "Why is the average mining time about 10 mins?". How do you answer this question if you are asked by beginners?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-05T14:36:24.820Z
Did you see http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/1863/why-was-the-target-block-time-chosen-to-be-10-minutes?rq=1
David W
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-05T14:46:27.603Z
Thank you for the link. I think that's difficult for beginners and too long to explain.
Satoshi Nakanishi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-06T10:06:12.740Z
@DavidW: Why did you link the second post that doesn't seem directly related? –– Also related: [Why is a short blocktime considered to be unsafe?](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/38587/5406), [What is the expected time until the next block is found?](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/3909/5406)
Murch
<mining-theory><block-interval><introducing-bitcoin>
How do you answer the question "Why 10 mins?" for beginners?
Satoshi Nakanishi
# How do you answer the question "Why 10 mins?" for beginners?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-06-05)

I'm often asked "Why is the average mining time about 10 mins?". How do you answer this question if you are asked by beginners?

**Tags:** mining-theory, block-interval, introducing-bitcoin

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Did you see http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/1863/why-was-the-target-block-time-chosen-to-be-10-minutes?rq=1  
> **username_0**: Thank you for the link. I think that's difficult for beginners and too long to explain.  
> **username_2**: @username_1: Why did you link the second post that doesn't seem directly related? –– Also related: [Why is a short blocktime considered to be unsafe?](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/38587/5406), [What is the expected time until the next block is found?](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/3909/5406)  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-06-05. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

Block time is a tradeoff between:

* Network propagation time
* Amount of work wasted due to chain splits (miners continuing to work on the last block before becoming aware a new one was found)


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### Answer by username_3 on 2016-06-09. Score: 0

I'm not really against on username_4 answer but i think it's still complex for a beginner to understand it.

Maybe give a realistic example of mining. "Real mining also takes time before you produce pure minerals out of stones which is the same with bitcoin mining, it takes some time before you receive fees from processing transactions."


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