Time Speed Distance

 Units of Speed, Time, and Distance

The most \[[[[/’
commonly used units of speed, time, and distance are:
 Speed: kilometers per hour (km/h), meters per second (m/s), miles per hour (mph), feet
per second (ft/s).
 Time: seconds (s), minutes (min), hours (h), days (d).
 Distance: kilometers (km), meters (m), miles (mi), feet (ft).
For example, to convert km/h to m/s, multiply by 5/18, and to convert m/s to km/h, multiply
by 18/5.
Being familiar with these units and their conversions can help in solving quantitative
aptitude questions related to speed, time, and distance efficiently.

 Relationship Between Speed, Time & Distance

Understanding the relationship between speed, time, and distance is essential to solve
problems.
Speed, Time, and Distance
 Speed = Distance/Time
The speed of an object describes how fast or slow it moves and is calculated as distance
divided by time.
Speed is directly proportional to distance and inversely proportional to time.
 Distance = Speed X Time
The distance an object travels is directly proportional to its speed – the faster it moves, the
greater the distance covered.
 Time = Distance / Speed
Time is inversely proportional to speed – the faster an object moves, the less time it takes
to cover a certain distance.
As speed increases, time taken decreases, and vice versa
  Speed, Time, and Distance Formulas
Some important speed, distance, and time formulas are given in the table below:-
TERMS FORMULAS

SPEED SPEED= DISTANCE/TIME

DISTANCE DISTANCE= SPEED × TIME

TIME TIME= DISTANCE/SPEED

AVERAGE SPEED= TOTAL DISTANCE

AVERAGE SPEED
TRAVELLED/TOTAL TIME TAKEN

AVERAGE SPEED
2xy/x+y
(WHEN DISTANCE IS CONSTANT)

RELATIVE SPEED RELATIVE SPEED=X+Y

(IF TWO TRAINS ARE MOVING IN TIME TAKEN= L1 + L2/X+Y
OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS ) HERE L1 AND L2 ARE LENGTHS OF TRAINS

RELATIVE SPEED RELATIVE SPEED=X-Y

(IF TWO TRAINS ARE MOVING IN TIME TAKEN= L1 + L2/X-Y
SAME DIRECTION) HERE L1 AND L2 ARE LENGTHS OF TRAINS

 Speed, Time, and Distance Conversions

The Speed, Time, and Distance Conversions into various units is important to understand
for solving problems:-
 To convert from km/hour to m / sec: a Km/hr = a x (5/18) m/s
 To convert from m / sec to km/hour: a m/s = a x (18/5) Km/hr
 If a person travels from point A to point B at a speed of S1 kilometers per hour (kmph)
and returns back from point B to point A at a speed of S2 kmph, the total time taken for
the round trip will be T hours. Distance between points A and B = T (S1S2/(S1+S2)).
 If two moving trains, one of length l1 traveling at speed S1 and the other of length l2
going at speed S2, intersect each other in a period of time t. Then their Total Velocity
can be expressed as S1+S2 = (l1+l2)/t.
 When two trains pass each other, the speed differential between them can be
determined using the equation S1-S2 = (l1+l2)/t, where S1 is the faster train’s speed,
S2 is the slower train’s speed, l1 is the faster train’s length and l2 is the slower train’s
length, and t is the time it takes for them to pass each other.
 If a train of length l1 is travelling at speed S1, it can cross a platform, bridge or tunnel
of length l2 in time t, then the speed is expressed as S1 = (l1+l2)/t
 If the train needs to pass a pole, pillar, or flag post while travelling at speed S, then S =
l/t.
 If two people A and B both start from separate points P and Q at the same time and
after crossing each other they take T1 and T2 hours respectively, then (A’s speed) /
(B’s speed) = √T2 / √T1

Applications of Speed, Time, and Distance

Average Speed = Total Distance Traveled/Total Time Taken
Case 1: when the same distance is covered at two separate speeds, x and y, then
Average Speed is determined as 2xy/x+y.
Case 2: when two speeds are used over the same period of time, then Average Speed is
calculated as (x + y)/2.
Relative speed: The rate at which two moving bodies are separating from or coming
closer to each other.
Case 1: If two objects are moving in opposite directions, then their relative speed would
be S1 + S2
Case 2: If they were moving in the same direction, their relative speed would be S1 – S2
Inverse Proportionality of Speed & Time: When Distance is kept constant, Speed and
Time are inversely proportional to each other.
This relation can be mathematically expressed as S = D/T where S (Speed), D (Distance)
and T (Time).
To solve problems based on this relationship, two methods are used:
1. Inverse Proportionality Rule
2. Constant Product Rule.

Examples - Time Speed Distance

Example 1:
Problem Statement: A cyclist can complete a 1200 m race in three minutes. Will he be
able to beat another cyclist who rides at 25 km/hr?
Solution:
We are given that the first cyclist can complete a 1200 m race in 3 minutes or 180
seconds.
=> Speed of the first cyclist = 1200 / 180 = 6.67 m/sec
We convert this speed to km/hr by multiplying it by 18/5.
=> Speed of the first cyclist = 24 km/hr
Also, we are given that the speed of the second cyclist is 25 km/hr.
Therefore, the first cyclist cannot beat the second cyclist.
Example 2:
Problem Statement: To cover a certain distance, a student has two options: to cycle or to
walk. If he walks one way and cycles back, it takes him 5 hours. If he cycles both ways, it
would take him 3 hours. How much time will he take if he walks both ways?
Solution:
To determine the time taken by the student if he walks both ways.
Time taken to walk one side + Time taken to cycle one side = 5 hours
Time taken to cycle both sides = 2 × Time taken to cycle one side = 3 hours
=> Time taken to cycle one side = 1.5 hours
Therefore, time taken to walk one side = 5 – 1.5 = 3.5 hours
Thus, time taken to walk both sides = 2 × 3.5 = 7 hours.
Related Articles:
 Practice Speed, Time and Distance Aptitude Quiz Questions
 Problem on Time Speed and Distance | Set-2

Summary
The article highlights key concepts of speed, time, and distance essential for competitive
exam preparation, detailing formulas and unit conversions. It includes examples to
demonstrate their practical applications in problem-solving.
FAQs on Speed, Time, and Distance
What is speed, time, and distance?
Speed, time and distance are the three major concepts in physics. Speed is the rate of
motion of an object between two points over a particular period of time which is measured
in metres per second (m/s). Time is calculated by reading a clock, and it is a scalar
quantity that do not change with direction. Distance is the total amount of ground covered
by an object.
What is the average speed?
The formula for speed, time and distance is a calculation of the total distance an object
travels over a given amount of time. It is a scalar quantity, meaning it’s an absolute value
with no direction. To calculate it, you need to divide the total distance traveled by the
amount of time it took to cover that distance.
What is the formula of speed, distance, and time?
 Speed = Distance/Time
 Time = Distance/Speed
 Distance = Speed x Time
What is the relationship between speed, distance, and time?
The relationship is given as follows:
Distance = Speed x Time

Suggested Quiz
10 Questions
A man takes 5 hours 45 minutes to walk to a certain place and ride back. He would have saved 2
hours had he ridden both ways. The time he would take to walk both ways is
 7 hours 45 minutes.
 3 hours 45 minutes.
 7 hours 40 minutes.
 3 hours 40 minutes.