x a m s Tackle Time, Speed & Distance

r + 2 E
A fte Basics
Time, speed and distance (TSD) is one of the most
popular topics in competitive exams after +2. Students
should prepare this topic really well as 2 to 3 questions in
the entrance exam are asked from this chapter every year.

Strategy Guide to Tackle

The concept of time, speed and distance is also used
extensively for questions relating to different areas in

TIME SPEED
various other examinations.Students should try to
understand the inter-relationship between the factors
time, speed and distance.

& DISTANCE
The most important relationship between time, speed and
distance is
Distance Travelled = Speed  Time
And the different ways of expressing the same
relationship will also come in handy while solving
problems in this section. They are
Speed = Distance ÷ Time and
Time = Distance ÷ Speed
The problems that occur in this topic can be classified
into one of the following sub headings:
(a) Speed, Time & Distance
(b) Trains

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(c) Relative Speed The important point to note is that time given was in
(d) Races minutes, whereas the speed was in kmph.
Therefore, either speed will have to be expressed as
Important Distance and Time Conversions km/min or time will have to be expressed in hours
1 km = 1000 meter to apply the relationship.
1 meter = 100 cm In this case we converted time into hours to get the
1 hour = 60 min answer. Conversely, converting speed into km/min,
we get 40 kmph = 40/60 km/min = 2/3 km/min
1 min = 60 sec
Therefore, distance traveled = 15  2 = 10 km.
1 hour = 3600 sec 3

1 km/hr =  1  1000  5
   m/sec.
Ex.2. Traveling at a speed of 50 Kmph, how long is it
 1  3600  18 going to take to travel 60 km?
Solved examples on Speed, Time and Distance Sol: Distance = Speed  Time Time = Distance  Speed
Usually, problems in this subheading cover finding one of  60 = 1.2 hours = 1 hour and 12 minutes.
50
the values, when the other two are provided. The
important thing to note in such problems is that the units Note: While converting decimal hours into the
of all three quantities used are the same, i.e. if speed in minutes, these are to multiplied with 60 and not by
km/hr, then distance will have to be in km and time in hundred.
hours. Ex.3. A man covers 75 km in 90 minutes. What is his
Ex.1. What is the distance covered by a car traveling at a speed in km/h?
speed of 40 kmph in 15 minutes? Sol: Speed = Distance  Time.
Sol: 40  15 = 10 km. Since, time is given in minutes and the required
60
answer is in km/h, we need to convert time into
equivalent hours.

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 90 minutes = 90 = 1.5 hours.
60

Therefore, speed = 75 = 50 km/h.

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Ex.4. Walking /6th
of his usual speed, Mike reached his
destination 10 minutes late. Find his usual time, and
the time taken on this occasion?
Sol: Let his usual speed be x km/hr and his usual time
be t hours.
His time on this occasion is 5 x ,
6

The time taken is  10  hours.

t  
 60 

Since the distance traveled on both occasions is the

same, xt= 5 x   t  10  .
6  60 

Solving for t, we get t = 5 hours

6
= 50 minutes, and the time taken on this occasion
= 50 + 10 = 60 minutes.
Ex.4(a). If the distance traveled by Mike be 60 km, then
what was his usual speed and what was the speed
on this occasion?
Sol: Usual time taken = 50 minutes = 5 hours
6

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 The distance = 60 km.
Usual Speed = DistanceUsual Time 60 = 72
5
6
kmph.
Speed on this occasion =
Distance  Time on this occasion = 60 = 60 kmph.
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Average Speed
The ratio between the usual speed to the speed on
this occasion = 72 = 6 Case 1: When the time taken is the same:
60 5
The average speed of traveling at two different speeds for
The ratio of the usual time taken to the time taken the same time span is just the simple average of these
on this occasion = 50.min = 5 . two speeds. So, if two speeds are a and b units.
60.min 6
ab
Note: In general, speed and time have an inverse Average Speed =
relationship. Therefore, if the speed becomes, say 2
0.5 times the original speed, then the time taken Case 2: When the distance travelled is the same:
becomes twice as much as taken originally for the
same distance. Or if the ratio of the speed of two However, the above simple average rule does not work
moving objects is in the ratio of 3:4, the time taken when the time span of each of the different speeds is
by them to cover identical distance will be in the different and only the distance is the same. In this case,
ratio of 4:3. one should take the simple average of the inverses of the
two speeds and then again inverse the speed.
Let the two speeds be akmph and bkmph.
Let the distance traveled in each of the speeds be x km.

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 x x
Time taken to cover x km at ‘a’ kmph= & at ‘b’ kmph=
a b
x x bx  ax x(b  a)
Total time taken = + = = , and the total
a b ab ab
distance covered = 2x.
2ab
Therefore, average speed = 2x = .
x ( a  b) ab
ab

The average speed of traveling at two different speeds

when the distance travelled is same, is harmonic mean of
these two speeds. So, if two speeds are a and b units.
2ab
Average Speed =
ab
Solved examples on Average speed
Ex.5. A motorist travels one hour at an average speed of
45 kmph and the next hour at an average speed of
65 kmph. Then his average speed is
Sol: (45 + 65)  2 = 55 kmph.
The total distance traveled by the motorist in these
two hours = 65 + 45 = 110 km and he has taken two
hours. Therefore, his average speed = 55 kmph.
Ex.6. On my way from the office to the Pimpri class, I
drive at 30 kmph and on the return journey I drive at
45 kmph. What is my average speed of travel?

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Sol: 37.5 kmph is incorrect as the time traveled is  Problems in this section will involve finding the
different in both the cases and only the distances distance of a train
are same.  When it crosses a stationary man / lamp post / sign
Let the distance between the office and Pimpri post / pole - in all these cases the object which the
class be x km. train crosses is stationary - and the distance
traveled is the length of the train.
 Time taken on my onward journey = x hours and
30  When it crosses a platform / bridge - in these cases,
Time taken on my return journey = x . the object which the train crosses is stationary - and
45 the distance traveled is the length of the train +
The total time taken for my onward and return length of the object
journey  When it crosses another train which is moving at a
= x+ x = 5x hours. particular speed in the same / opposite direction - in
30 45 90 these cases, the other train is also moving and the
The total distance traveled both ways = 2x km relative speed between them is taken depending
upon the direction of the other train - and the
2x
Average speed = = 36 kmph. distance is the sum of the lengths of both the trains
5x
90
 When it crosses a car / bicycle / a mobile man - in
Relative Speed and Trains
these cases again the relative speed between the
 When two objects are moving in the same direction, train and the object is taken depending upon the
then their relative speed is the difference between direction of the movement of the other object
the two speeds. relative to the train - and the distance traveled is the
length of the train.
 When two objects are moving in the opposite
direction, then their relative speed is the sum of the
two speeds.

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Let us see some cases:
Case 1.When two trains are crossing each other
Let us assume that the trains of length L1 and L2
and speed V1 m/s and V2 m/s respectively are
crossing each other;
i. The direction of the movement of both the trains
are the same:
L1/V1

L2/V2

Relative speed = | V1 - V2 |
Total distance covered = L1 + L2
ii. The direction of the movement of both the trains
are opposite:
L1/V1

L2/V2

Relative speed = | V1 + V2 |
Total distance covered = L1 + L2

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Case 2.When a train is crossing a stationary object Case 3.When the train is crossing a platform or a
i. When the trains is crossing a pole or a stationary standing train.
human being: Relative speed = V1 + V2
A A Where V1 is the speed of the moving train and V2 is
(Fig. 1) (Fig. 2) the speed of the standing train or the platform.

Let us assume that A is a pole. In figure I, the front Since V2 = 0, so the relative speed = V1
of the train is about to cross the pole and in figure 2, Total distance covered = L1 + L2
the tail of the train has just crossed the pole. It is Where L1 is the length of the moving train and L2 is
understood here that the train has crossed its whole the length of the standing train or the platform.
length with respect to the pole. So, when the train is
crossing any stationary object of negligible width, Ex.7. A train traveling at 60 kmph crosses a man standing
total distance covered is its own length. on platform in 6 seconds. What is the length of the
train?
Relative speed = V1 + V2 since V2 = 0, then, the
relative speed = V2 Sol: Speed in m/sec = 60  5/18= 50/3 m/sec.
Total distance covered = L1 + L2, since L2 (width of Time taken to cross the man = 6 seconds.
the pole) is negligible with respect to L2 (Length of Therefore, distance traveled = 50/3  6 = 100 meter
the train), so we do not consider h while calculating
= length of the train.
the quantities. Thus, distance = L1.
Ex.8. A train traveling at 60 kmph crosses another train
However, it should be remembered that this is
traveling in the same direction at 50 kmph in 30
mathematically not correct and all the solutions are
seconds. What is the combined length of both the
on the assumption that the width of the pole is zero,
trains?
which is obviously not true.
Sol: Speed of train A in m/sec = 60  5/18= 50/3m/sec
Speed of train B in m/sec = 125/9 m/sec

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 The relative speed is = 50/3 - 125/9= 25/9 m/sec. Time taken downstream upstream speed
i.e. 
Time taken for train A to cross train B = 30 seconds. Time taken upstream downstram speed

Therefore, distance traveled = 25/930 = 250/3 So we can say if the speed of the boat in still water is say
meter Bkmph and if the speed at which the stream is flowing is
Wkmph, then
= Combined length of two trains.
(i) When the boat is traveling with the stream the
Boats and Streams speed of the boat = (B + W) kmph
Downstream movement: When the direction of the (ii) When the boat is traveling against the stream the
movement of a river and a boat is the same, their speed of the boat = (B – W) kmph.
collective movement is known as the downstream
(iii) If the upstream is denoted as U and downstream is
movement. And the distance covered by boat is known as
denoted as D then
downstream distance.
DU DU
Upstream movement: When the direction the movement (iv) B= ., W = .
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of the river and a boat is opposite, they are said to be in
upstream movement. The distance covered in this case is Hence, if downstream speed and upstream speed are
known as upstream distance. given as 20 km/h and 10 km/h respectively, then the
speed of the boat = 15 km/h and speed of the river = 5
If the speed of the river = R and the speed of the boat - B.
km/h.
then upstream speed = B - R (Conventionally the speed of
boat is taken more the than speed of the river.) Solved Examples on Boats and Streams
In most of the cases of boats and streams. The distance Ex.9. A boat travels at a speed of 30 kmph with the
covered downstream and upstream are the same.In those stream and 18 kmph against the stream. What is
cases, the ratio of the time taken becomes inverse of the the boat’s speed in still water and the speed of the
ratio of the speeds. stream?

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Sol: Speed of the boat in still water = 30  18 = 24 kmph Distance traveled in next 3 hours = 160  3 = 480
2 miles
and Speed of the stream = 30  18 = 6 kmph
2 Therefore, the total distance traveled = 1040 miles.
Ex.10. Driving 5/4th of his usual speed, David reached the The total time taken = 7 hours.
destination 12 minutes earlier. What is the usual
time he takes to travel? Therefore, the average speed = 1040 = 148 4 mph.
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Sol: Let X km/hr be the usual speed and let t hours be Ex.12. During the onward journey from Bombay to Pune,
the usual time taken. Deccan Queen travels at an average speed of 80
kmph, while on the return journey, the train is able to
Speed on this occasion = 5 X km/hr
4 average a speed of 100 kmph. What is the average
 12  hrs.
speed of the train on its entire journey?
The time taken on this occasion = t  
 60  2ab 2  80  100
Sol: Average speed = =
Since the distance is the same in both the cases, Xt a b 180

= 5 X   t  12  = 800 = 88 8 km/hr
4  60  9 9

Solving for t, t = 1 hour - the usual time taken. Ex.13. A train traveling at 100 km/hr crosses a bridge of
half a km length completely in 30 seconds. What is
Ex.11. In a cross-country race, a motorist averages a
the length of the train?
speed of 140 mph during the first 4 hours and then
increases his average by 20 mph during the last 3 Sol: Speed = 100 km/hr = 100  5 = 250 m/sec
hours. What was his average speed during the 18 9
entire race? Time taken to cross = 30 seconds.
Sol: Distance traveled in first 4 hours = 140 4 = 560 Therefore, distance traveled = 250  30 = 2500 m
miles 9 3
Distance = Length of the train + length of the bridge

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 2500 = Length of the train + 500 Equating length of the train in Case I and Case II,
3
we get 5 X = 20 (X – 50).
 Length of the train = 1000 m 3
3

Ex.14. A train crosses a signpost in 6 seconds and a car Solving for X, we get X = 600 km/hr
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traveling in the same direction at 50 kmph in 72 5 600
seconds. What is the length of train and the speed and the length =  = 1000 m
3 11 11
at which it is traveling?
Ex.15. Traveling at 6 km/hr, I reach my office 20 minutes
Sol: Case I: late. Traveling at 8 km/hr I reach my office 30
Let X km/hrbe the speed of the train. = X  5 m/sec minutes early. What is my usual speed and time
18 taken to reach my office?
Time taken to cross a signpost = 6 seconds. Sol: Let my usual speed be S km/hr and my usual time
Therefore distance traveled = X  5  6 = 5 X meter bet hours.
18 3  20   30 
Therefore, 6  t    8  t   . Solving for t, we get t
= length of the train  60   60 
= 3 hours.
Case II:
Since the usual time taken = 3 hours, usual distance
The speed of the car = 50 km/hr.
traveled = 3S kms,
Relative speed of the train w.r.t car = (X – 50) km/hr
Equating distance traveled usually, with distance
= (X – 50)  5 m/sec. traveled at any of the other two speeds, we get
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 20 
Time taken to cross the car = 72 seconds. 6  3    3S. Therefore, S = 6 2 km/hr.
 60  3
Therefore, distance traveled = (X – 50)  5  72
18
= 20 (X-50) m = length of train

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Concept of Circular Motion You can also check this as after 30 mins A would have
Let us explore the concept of circular motion. It involves taken 3 rounds and B would have taken 30  5 rounds. So
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analyzing problems which involve circular tracks. people after completing 3 & 5 rounds they will be at the starting
generally move around a track clockwise or anti clockwise point.
at different speeds. The basic objective of this concept is
Time to meet anywhere: Now to meet for the first time
generally to calculate:
the faster person has to complete one full round extra
I. the time of meeting of people (running around the over the slower person. The faster person is ahead of the
track) at the starting point again after they started. slower one right from the first minute only due to his
II. meeting for the first time anywhere on the track. speed being higher than the speed of the other and they
both are moving in the same direction. It can be said that
III. At how many distinct points do people meet while when the faster is ahead of the slower by one full track
running on the circular track. length, he will be overtaking the slower person from
Time to meet at the Starting point: The concept here is behind. Now, at this very moment these people meet.
that firstly the time taken by each of the persons to run In order to calculate the time we can say that time of
one complete round at their respective speeds and then track length
take the L.C.M of these times. This LCM gives the time of meeting = .
relative speed
their meeting again at the starting point.
Illustration: There is a track with a length of 120 mtrs and Taking the previous data example’s data to find when will
2 people, A & B, are running around it at 12 m/min and 20 B overtake A,
m/min respectively in the same direction. 120 120
Time of meeting =   15 min .
Now, the time of their meeting again at the starting point 20  12 8
will be the LCM of 120 & 120 i.e. 10 & 6, which is 30 mins. So, In order to visualize we can say that B covers 8 mtr/min
12 20
after 30 mins these people will be together at the starting extra over A. So when B covers 120 mtrs. extra he will
point. overtake A from the behind and hence they both will meet.

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No. of points: Let's suppose the question now is at how Same Direction Opposite
many different points do people running around a circular Direction
track meet. Time to reach initial x x  x x 
L.C.M  ,  L.C.M  , 
The logic that operates behind this problem: if we divide point first time a b a b
the time of their first meeting at the starting point with the Time to meet for the x x
time of their first meeting anywhere on the track, we get first time on track |a  b| ab
the number of points at which these people would meet
No. of distinct Lowest ratio of Lowest ratio of
including the starting point.
meeting Points a & b =c:d (say) a & b =c:d (say)
Again considering the data from the above example, we Then No. of Then No. of
can say that number of points =
30
 2 points distinct distinct meeting
15 meeting Points= c+d
This is inclusive of the starting point. There are two Points= |c-d|
points, where they will meet.
Races
Shortcut to find the number of distinct meeting points:
In a race, one can give other a head start of distance or
Step 1: Take the lowest ratio of the speeds. time. When the terminologies, A gives B a start of 10
Step 2: Add if objects are moving in opposite directions. meter or A beats B by 10 meter in a 100 meter race, is
used, it means that when A completes 100 meter B would
Step 3: Subtract if objects are moving in same directions.
have completed only 90 meter. So, we can take following
So, all the three parts can be represented in the following two cases.
table:
Case 1. A gives a start of 10m to B  When B has already
run 10m, then A starts running.
A B

10m 90m

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Case 2. A gives a start of 10 secs to B B has already run  When A reaches 100 meter B reaches 90 meter.
for 10 secs, now A starts running. Race 2: Length 300 meter.
A B
When B reaches 300 meter, C reaches 273 meter
10v  When B reaches 100 meter, C reaches 91 meter.
Where V m/s is the speed of B. Therefore, in a 100 meter race, when A finishes 100
Ex.16. In a 400 meter race, A can give B a start of 25 meter C finishes 90  91 = 81.9 meter.
100
meter and C a start of 50 meter. What start can B
give C? In other words, A can give C a start of 18.1 meter in
a 100-meter race.
Sol: When A runs 400 meter, B runs 375 meter.
Therefore, in a half a kilometre race, A can give C a
When A runs 400 meter, C runs 350 meter.
start of 90.5 meter.
i.e. when B runs 375 meter, C runs 350 meter.
Ex.18. Tom can run a km in 9 minutes and 54 seconds,
Therefore, when B runs 400 meter, while Jerry can run in 10 minutes. How many
C runs 350  400
= 373.33 meter. metres start can Tom give Jerry?
375
Sol: Since, Jerry takes 6 seconds longer than Tom, the
Or B can give C a start of 26.67 meter in a 400 start that Tom can give Jerry is the distance that
meter race. Jerry can cover in 6 s.
Ex.17. A gives B a start of 20 meter in a 200-meter race In 10 minutes Jerry can run 1000 metre.
and B gives C a start of 27 meter in a 300 meter
race. How much start can A give C in a half km Therefore, in 6 seconds he can run 1000  6/600 =
race? 10 metre

Sol: Race 1: Length 200 meter. Tom can give Jerry a start of 10m.

When A reaches 200 meter, B reaches 180 meter. Practice the above mentioned questions thoroughly
in order to understand the concept.

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