C K L E

TA D
E D A N
S PE
TIME N C E
DIST A
CAT
 Tackle Time, Speed & Distance for CAT

Basics
Time, speed and distance (TSD) is one of the most
popular topics in CAT. Almost 2 to 3 questions in the
paper are asked from this chapter every year. The
concept of time, speed and distance is also used
extensively for questions relating to different areas in
various other examinations.Students should try to
understand the inter-relationship between the factors
time, speed and 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

1
(b) Trains
(c) Relative Speed
(d) Races

Important Distance and Time Conversions

1 km = 1000 meter
1 meter = 100 cm
1 hour = 60 min
1 min = 60 sec
1 hour = 3600 sec
 1  1000  5
1 km/hr =   m/sec.
 1  3600  18

Solved examples on Speed, Time and Distance

Usually, problems in this subheading cover finding one of
the values, when the other two are provided. The
important thing to note in such problems is that the units
of all three quantities used are the same, i.e. if speed in
km/hr, then distance will have to be in km and time in
hours.
Ex.1. What is the distance covered by a car traveling at a
speed of 40 kmph in 15 minutes?

2
Sol: 40  15 = 10 km.
60

The important point to note is that time given was

in minutes, whereas the speed was in kmph.
Therefore, either speed will have to be expressed
as km/min or time will have to be expressed in
hours to apply the relationship.
In this case we converted time into hours to get the
answer. Conversely, converting speed into km/min,
we get 40 kmph = 40/60 km/min = 2/3 km/min
Therefore, distance traveled = 15  2 = 10 km.
3

Ex.2. Traveling at a speed of 50 Kmph, how long is it

going to take to travel 60 km?
Sol: Distance = Speed  Time  Time = Distance 
Speed  60 = 1.2 hours = 1 hour and 12 minutes.
50

Note: While converting decimal hours into the

minutes, these are to multiplied with 60 and not by
hundred.
Ex.3. A man covers 75 km in 90 minutes. What is his
speed in km/h?
Sol: Speed = Distance  Time.

3
 Since, time is given in minutes and the required
answer is in km/h, we need to convert time into
equivalent hours.
90 minutes = 90 = 1.5 hours.
60

Therefore, speed = 75 = 50 km/h.

1.5

Ex.4. Walking 5/6th 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.

4
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

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.
1

The ratio between the usual speed to the speed on

this occasion = 72 = 6
60 5

The ratio of the usual time taken to the time taken

on this occasion = 50.min = 5 .
60.min 6

Note: In general, speed and time have an inverse

relationship. Therefore, if the speed becomes, say
0.5 times the original speed, then the time taken
becomes twice as much as taken originally for the
same distance. Or if the ratio of the speed of two
moving objects is in the ratio of 3:4, the time taken

5
 by them to cover identical distance will be in the
ratio of 4:3.

Average Speed
Case 1: When the time taken is the same:
The average speed of traveling at two different speeds
for the same time span is just the simple average of
these two speeds. So, if two speeds are a and b units.
ab
Average Speed =
2
Case 2: When the distance travelled is the same:
However, the above simple average rule does not work
when the time span of each of the different speeds is
different and only the distance is the same. In this case,
one should take the simple average of the inverses of the
two speeds and then again inverse the speed.

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Let the two speeds be akmph and bkmph.
Let the distance traveled in each of the speeds be x km.
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

7
 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?
Sol: 37.5 kmph is incorrect as the time traveled is
different in both the cases and only the distances
are same.
Let the distance between the office and Pimpri
class be x km.
 Time taken on my onward journey = x
hours and
30

Time taken on my return journey = x .

45

 The total time taken for my onward and return

journey
= x
+ x = 5x hours.
30 45 90

The total distance traveled both ways = 2x km

 Average speed = 2 x = 36 kmph.
5x
90

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Relative Speed and Trains

 When two objects are moving in the same

direction, then their relative speed is the difference
between the two speeds.
 When two objects are moving in the opposite
direction, then their relative speed is the sum of the
two speeds.
 Problems in this section will involve finding the
distance of a train
 When it crosses a stationary man / lamp post /
sign post / pole - in all these cases the object
which the train crosses is stationary - and the
distance traveled is the length of the train.
 When it crosses a platform / bridge - in these
cases, the object which the train crosses is
stationary - and the distance traveled is the length
of the train + length of the object
 When it crosses another train which is moving at a
particular speed in the same / opposite direction -
in these cases, the other train is also moving and
the relative speed between them is taken
depending upon the direction of the other train -

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 and the distance is the sum of the lengths of both
the trains
 When it crosses a car / bicycle / a mobile man - in
these cases again the relative speed between the
train and the object is taken depending upon the
direction of the movement of the other object
relative to the train - and the distance traveled is
the length of the train.
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

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 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
Case 2.When a train is crossing a stationary object
i. When the trains is crossing a pole or a stationary
human being:
A A
(Fig. 1) (Fig. 2)

Let us assume that A is a pole. In figure I, the front

of the train is about to cross the pole and in figure
2, the tail of the train has just crossed the pole. It is
understood here that the train has crossed its
whole length with respect to the pole. So, when the
train is crossing any stationary object of negligible
width, total distance covered is its own length.

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 Relative speed = V1 + V2 since V2 = 0, then, the
relative speed = V2
Total distance covered = L1 + L2, since L2 (width of
the pole) is negligible with respect to L2 (Length of
the train), so we do not consider h while calculating
the quantities. Thus, distance = L1.
However, it should be remembered that this is
mathematically not correct and all the solutions
are on the assumption that the width of the pole is
zero, which is obviously not true.
Case 3.When the train is crossing a platform or a
standing train.
Relative speed = V1 + V2
Where V1 is the speed of the moving train and V2
is the speed of the standing train or the platform.
Since V2 = 0, so the relative speed = V1
Total distance covered = L1 + L2
Where L1 is the length of the moving train and L2 is
the length of the standing train or the platform.
Ex.7. A train traveling at 60 kmph crosses a man
standing on platform in 6 seconds. What is the
length of the train?

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Sol: Speed in m/sec = 60  5/18= 50/3 m/sec.
Time taken to cross the man = 6 seconds.
Therefore, distance traveled = 50/3  6 = 100 meter
= length of the train.
Ex.8. A train traveling at 60 kmph crosses another train
traveling in the same direction at 50 kmph in 30
seconds. What is the combined length of both the
trains?
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
The relative speed is = 50/3 - 125/9= 25/9 m/sec.
Time taken for train A to cross train B = 30
seconds.
Therefore, distance traveled = 25/930 = 250/3
meter
= Combined length of two trains.

Boats and Streams

Downstream movement: When the direction of the
movement of a river and a boat is the same, their
collective movement is known as the downstream

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movement. And the distance covered by boat is known
as downstream distance.
Upstream movement: When the direction the movement
of the river and a boat is opposite, they are said to be in
upstream movement. The distance covered in this case
is known as upstream distance.
If the speed of the river = R and the speed of the boat - B.
then upstream speed = B - R (Conventionally the speed of
boat is taken more the than speed of the river.)
In most of the cases of boats and streams. The distance
covered downstream and upstream are the same.In
those cases, the ratio of the time taken becomes inverse
of the ratio of the speeds.
Time taken downstream upstreamspeed
i.e. 
Time taken upstream downstramspeed

So we can say if the speed of the boat in still water is say

Bkmph and if the speed at which the stream is flowing is
Wkmph, then
(i) When the boat is traveling with the stream the
speed of the boat = (B + W) kmph
(ii) When the boat is traveling against the stream the
speed of the boat = (B – W) kmph.

14
(iii) If the upstream is denoted as U and downstream
is denoted as D then
D U D U
(iv) B= ., W= .
2 2

Hence, if downstream speed and upstream speed are

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
km/h.

Solved Examples on Boats and Streams

Ex.9. A boat travels at a speed of 30 kmph with the
stream and 18 kmph against the stream. What is
the boat’s speed in still water and the speed of the
stream?
Sol: Speed of the boat in still water = 30  18 = 24 kmph
2
30  18
and Speed of the stream = = 6 kmph
2

Ex.10. Driving 5/4th of his usual speed, David reached the

destination 12 minutes earlier. What is the usual
time he takes to travel?
Sol: Let X km/hr be the usual speed and let t hours be
the usual time taken.

15
 Speed on this occasion = 5 X km/hr
4

The time taken on this occasion =  12  hrs.

t  
 60 

Since the distance is the same in both the cases, Xt

= 5 X   t  12 
4  60 

Solving for t, t = 1 hour - the usual time taken.

Ex.11. In a cross-country race, a motorist averages a
speed of 140 mph during the first 4 hours and then
increases his average by 20 mph during the last 3
hours. What was his average speed during the
entire race?
Sol: Distance traveled in first 4 hours = 140 4 = 560
miles
Distance traveled in next 3 hours = 160  3 = 480
miles
Therefore, the total distance traveled = 1040 miles.
The total time taken = 7 hours.
Therefore, the average speed = 1040 = 148 4 mph.
7 7

Ex.12. During the onward journey from Bombay to Pune,

Deccan Queen travels at an average speed of 80

16
 kmph, while on the return journey, the train is able
to average a speed of 100 kmph. What is the
average speed of the train on its entire journey?
2ab 2  80  100
Sol: Average speed = =
a b 180

= 800 = 88
8
km/hr
9 9

Ex.13. A train traveling at 100 km/hr crosses a bridge of

half a km length completely in 30 seconds. What is
the length of the train?
Sol: Speed = 100 km/hr = 100  5 = 250 m/sec
18 9
Time taken to cross = 30 seconds.
Therefore, distance traveled = 250  30 = 2500 m
9 3

Distance = Length of the train + length of the

bridge
2500
= Length of the train + 500
3

 Length of the train = 1000 m

3

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Ex.14. A train crosses a signpost in 6 seconds and a car
traveling in the same direction at 50 kmph in 72
seconds. What is the length of train and the speed
at which it is traveling?
Sol: Case I:
Let X km/hrbe the speed of the train. = X  5 m/sec
18

Time taken to cross a signpost = 6 seconds.

Therefore distance traveled = X  5  6 = 5X
meter
18 3

= length of the train

Case II:
The speed of the car = 50 km/hr.
Relative speed of the train w.r.t car = (X – 50)
km/hr
= (X – 50)  5 m/sec.
18

Time taken to cross the car = 72 seconds.

Therefore, distance traveled = (X – 50)  5  72
18

= 20 (X-50) m = length of train

Equating length of the train in Case I and Case II,

18
 we get 5X
= 20 (X – 50).
3

Solving for X, we get X = 600 km/hr

11

and the length = 5 600

 = 1000 m
3 11 11

Ex.15. Traveling at 6 km/hr, I reach my office 20 minutes

late. Traveling at 8 km/hr I reach my office 30
minutes early. What is my usual speed and time
taken to reach my office?
Sol: Let my usual speed be S km/hr and my usual time
bet hours.
 20   30 
Therefore, 6  t    8  t   . Solving for t, we get t
 60   60 
= 3 hours.
Since the usual time taken = 3 hours, usual
distance traveled = 3S kms,
Equating distance traveled usually, with distance
traveled at any of the other two speeds, we get
 20 
6  3    3S. Therefore, S = 6 2 km/hr.
 60  3

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Concept of Circular Motion
Let us explore the concept of circular motion. It involves
analyzing problems which involve circular tracks. people
generally move around a track clockwise or anti
clockwise at different speeds. The basic objective of this
concept is generally to calculate:
I. the time of meeting of people (running around the
track) at the starting point again after they started.
II. meeting for the first time anywhere on the track.
III. At how many distinct points do people meet while
running on the circular track.
Time to meet at the Starting point: The concept here is
that firstly the time taken by each of the persons to run
one complete round at their respective speeds and then
take the L.C.M of these times. This LCM gives the time of
their meeting again at the starting point.
Illustration: There is a track with a length of 120 mtrs and
2 people, A & B, are running around it at 12 m/min and 20
m/min respectively in the same direction.
Now, the time of their meeting again at the starting point
will be the LCM of 120 & 120 i.e. 10 & 6, which is 30 mins.
12 20

20
So, after 30 mins these people will be together at the
starting point.
You can also check this as after 30 mins A would have
taken 3 rounds and B would have taken 30  5 rounds. So
6
after completing 3 & 5 rounds they will be at the starting
point.
Time to meet anywhere: Now to meet for the first time
the faster person has to complete one full round extra
over the slower person. The faster person is ahead of the
slower one right from the first minute only due to his
speed being higher than the speed of the other and they
both are moving in the same direction. It can be said that
when the faster is ahead of the slower by one full track
length, he will be overtaking the slower person from
behind. Now, at this very moment these people meet.
In order to calculate the time we can say that time of
tracklength
meeting = .
relative speed

Taking the previous data example’s data to find when will

B overtake A,
120 120
Time of meeting =   15 min .
20  12 8

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In order to visualize we can say that B covers 8 mtr/min
extra over A. So when B covers 120 mtrs. extra he will
overtake A from the behind and hence they both will
meet.
No. of points: Let's suppose the question now is at how
many different points do people running around a
circular track meet.
The logic that operates behind this problem: if we divide
the time of their first meeting at the starting point with
the time of their first meeting anywhere on the track, we
get the number of points at which these people would
meet including the starting point.
Again considering the data from the above example, we
can say that number of points = 30  2 points
15

This is inclusive of the starting point. There are two

points, where they will meet.
Shortcut to find the number of distinct meeting points:
Step 1: Take the lowest ratio of the speeds.
Step 2: Add if objects are moving in opposite directions.
Step 3: Subtract if objects are moving in same
directions.

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So, all the three parts can be represented in the following
table:
Same Direction Opposite
Direction
Time to reach initial L.C.M x x
 ,  L.C.M x x
 , 
a b  a b 
point first time
Time to meet for the x x
| a b| ab
first time on track
No. of distinct Lowest ratio of Lowest ratio of
meeting Points a & b =c:d a & b =c:d (say)
(say) Then No. Then No. of
of distinct distinct
meeting meeting
Points= |c-d| Points= c+d

Races
In a race, one can give other a head start of distance or
time. When the terminologies, A gives B a start of 10
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 have completed only 90 meter. So, we can take
following two cases.

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Case 1. A gives a start of 10m to B  When B has
already run 10m, then A starts running.
A B

10m 90m
Case 2. A gives a start of 10 secs to B B has already
run for 10 secs, now A starts running.
A B

10v

Where V m/s is the speed of B.

Ex.16. In a 400 meter race, A can give B a start of 25
meter and C a start of 50 meter. What start can B
give C?
Sol: When A runs 400 meter, B runs 375 meter.
When A runs 400 meter, C runs 350 meter.
i.e. when B runs 375 meter, C runs 350 meter.
Therefore, when B runs 400 meter,
350  400
C runs = 373.33 meter.
375

24
 Or B can give C a start of 26.67 meter in a 400
meter race.
Ex.17. A gives B a start of 20 meter in a 200-meter race
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
race?
Sol: Race 1: Length 200 meter.
When A reaches 200 meter, B reaches 180 meter.
 When A reaches 100 meter B reaches 90 meter.
Race 2: Length 300 meter.
When B reaches 300 meter, C reaches 273 meter
 When B reaches 100 meter, C reaches 91 meter.
Therefore, in a 100 meter race, when A finishes 100
meter C finishes 90  91 = 81.9 meter.
100

In other words, A can give C a start of 18.1 meter in

a 100-meter race.
Therefore, in a half a kilometre race, A can give C a
start of 90.5 meter.

25
Ex.18. Tom can run a km in 9 minutes and 54 seconds,
while Jerry can run in 10 minutes. How many
metres start can Tom give Jerry?
Sol: Since, Jerry takes 6 seconds longer than Tom, the
start that Tom can give Jerry is the distance that
Jerry can cover in 6 s.
In 10 minutes Jerry can run 1000 metre.
Therefore, in 6 seconds he can run 1000  6/600 =
10 metre
Tom can give Jerry a start of 10m

26