Math Lesson on Speed, Time & Distance

Must know formulas: Speed = Distance/time. If, Speed is denoted by V, Distance is detonated by S and time is detonated by T, then V = S/T Or, S = V X T. Speed is expressed in terms of per hour. So, unit of Speed is km/hr or mile/hr Conversion between km/hr to meter/sec : 1 km/hr = 5/18 meter/sec Conversion between meter/hr to km/sec : 1 meter/sec = 18/5 km/hr Special Situations : Round trip : If a car moves a certain distance at x km/hr and returns to the starting point across the same road at y km/hr speed, then the average speed for the entire trip = 2xy/x+y km/hr Two trains going at the same direction: Suppose, a train at the speed of x km/hr is moving along the rail track towards north. Another train, running beside the previous rail track is also moving towards north at the speed of y km/hr. In this situation, any passenger sitting in the first train will feel the other train is moving at (x-y) km/hr [if x>y]. Similarly, passenger in the second train will feel the other train is moving at (x-y) km/hr [assuming x>y]. This phenomenon happens due to relative velocity. Suppose, length of the faster train is M km and length of the slower train is N km, the time required to cross each other = (M+N)/x-y hrs Two trains coming towards each other/moving opposite direction: Suppose, a train at the speed of x km/hr is moving along the rail track towards north. Another train is coming from the opposite side towards the first train in another parallel rail track at the speed of y km/hr. In this situation, any passenger sitting in the first train will feel the other train is moving at (x+y) km/hr. Similarly, passenger in the second train will feel the other train is moving at (x+y) km/hr. This phenomenon happens due to relative velocity. Suppose, length of the faster train is M km and length of the slower train is N km, the time required to cross each other = (M+N)/x+y hrs A train crossing a human being or a signal pole: If a train crosses a human being or a railway signal pole, it has to travel the path equal to its own length.
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 A train crossing a bridge/tunnel: If a train crosses a bridge/tunnel, it has to travel the path equal to its own length + the length of the bridge. So, if the length of the train is X km and length of the bridge or tunnel is Y km, then total distance that has to be covered is = X+Y Two trains crossing each other: If two trains cross each other, both have to travel the path equal to the summation of their individual lengths. Suppose length of one train is x meter and length of other train is y meter, then to cross each other completely, each have to travel (x+y) meters If the ratio of the speeds of A: B is a:b then the ratio of the times taken by them to cover the same distance is 1/a : 1/b = b:a Boats & Streams: Direction along the stream is called downstream Direction against the stream is called upstream If the speed of the row/boat is a km/hr and the speed of stream is b km/hr, then Speed downstream = (a+b) km/hr Speed upstream = (a-b) km/hr Example 01: A train normally travels 60 miles at a certain speed. On a day, due to mechanical problem, the trains speed is reduced by 10 mph so that the journey takes 3 hours longer. What is the normal speed of the train? [IBA MBA : 2007-2008] (A) 20 (B) 25 (C) 32 (D) 45 (E) none of these Solution: Traditional method: Let the normal speed is x mile/hr So, to travel 60 miles, the train takes = 60/x hr If the speed is reduced by 10 mph, the resultant speed = x-10 mph So, to travel 60 miles at this new speed, required time = 60/x-10 hr According to condition given, (60/x-10) (60/x) = 3 Or, 60/x-10 = 60/x +3 Or, 60/x-10 = 60+3x/x Or, 60x = (x-10) * (60+3x) [cross multiplication]
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Or, 60x = 60x + 3x2 - 600 30x Or, 3x2 - 600 30x = 0 Or, x2 10x-200 = 0 Or, (x-20) (x+10) = 0 Since, x cant be equal to -10 [as speed cant be negative] So, x-20 = 0 or, x = 20 So, the normal speed of the train is 20 mile/hr shortcut technique: In this shortcut method, we wont calculate the solution directly rather will try to find out the answer from the choices given by educated guess. While guessing, it is always advisable to start with the answer choices which are multiples of 5. In that case, for this problem, it is better to start with choice A or choice B and then try with choice D and finally trying with choice C. Lets assume choice A is the answer. So, if the normal speed is 20 mile/hr, to travel 60 mile, it will take 60/20 = 3 hr. If the speed is reduced by 10 mile/hr, then the speed becomes 10 mile/hr and to travel 60 miles it will take = 60/10 = 6 hr So, for second case, it is taking 6-3 = 3 hr more than the normal speed. Bingo! This is the right choice as in the question, it has been clearly mentioned that, in second case when speed reduced to 10 mile than the normal, 3 more hour is needed. Example 02: Mr. Tanvir travelled to his office from his house at a speed of 4 km/hr. He returned home from his office at a speed of 6 km/hr. If Mr. Tanvirs total travelling time is 10 hr, what is the distance of his office from house? (A) 5 (B) 12 (C) 10 (D) 24 (E) none of these Solution: It is evident that, Mr. Tanvir is taking a round trip, means he took the same path while going office from house and while returning from office to house. So, as per round trip formula, average speed of Mr. Tanvir is = 2xy/x+y Here, x = 4km/hr and y=6km/hr So, the average speed in the round trip will be = 2*4*6/4+6 = 4.8 km/hr At 4.8 km/hr speed, Mr. Tanvir travelled 10 hr. So, total path travelled = 10 *4.8 =48km
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This 48 km distance is the total distance of round trip [from house to office and back to house from office]. So, distance from house to office = 48/2 = 24 km Example 03: A train running at 72 km/hr crosses a bridge in 60 seconds. If the length of the train is 200 meters, what is the length of the bridge in meter? (A) 500 (B) 1200 (C) 1000 (D) 800 (E) none of these Solution: Speed of the train is 72 km/hr = (72 X 5/18) meter/sec = 20 meter/sec So, at this speed, in 60 seconds, the train travels = 20 * 60 = 1200 meter This 1200 meters comprised of the trains length + bridges length So, length of the bridge is = 1200-200 = 1000 meter N.B : Please refer to special situations : A train crossing a bridge in page 1 of your lecture sheet Example 04: Two trains 256 meter and 264 meter long are running towards each other on parallel lines at 84 km/hr and 60 km/hr respectively. How much time will be needed to cross each other completely? (A) 15 sec (B) 12 sec Solution: Here, both trains are running towards each other. So, the effective relative velocity will be = (84+60) = 144 km/hr = 144*5/18 meter/sec = 40 meter/sec In order to cross each other completely, both trains have to travel the distance equal to the summation of their individual lengths, i.e, (256+264) meters= 520 meter. Therefore, to cross 520 meter at the speed of 40 meter/sec, required time will be = 520/40 = 13 sec. So, (E) is the correct answer. N.B: Students now try to do the same problem taking both trains are going towards same direction Example 05: A person travels a distance of 30 km at a speed of 60 km/hr and then comes back at thrice the speed. What is his total traveling time in minutes? (A) 15 min (B) 25 min (C) 40 min (D) 60 min (E) None of these
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(C) 20 sec

(D) 18 sec

(E) 13 sec

Solution: To travel 30 km @ 60km/hr speed, the person will need = 30/60 = hr Again, if he returns at thrice the speed, his speed will be 180 km/hr In that case, the person will need = 30/180 = 1/6 hr So, total time needed = (1/2 + 1/6) = 4/6 hr = 2/3 hr = 2/3*60 minutes = 40 minutes So, (C) is the right answer. Example 06: If two planes leave the same airport at 1:00 PM, how many miles apart will they be at 3:00 PM if one travels directly north at 150 mph and the other travels directly east at 200 mph? [IBA MBA 2010-11] (A) 50 Solution: N S 300 300 500 A (B) 2500 (C) 500 (D) 600 (E) None of these

B Traditional method:

400

The first plane which will leave the airport at 1:00 PM, will be at point A at 3:00 PM in the northern direction. In this 2 hours, it will fly = 2*150 = 300 miles. Similarly, the second plane, leaving the airport from point B and flying towards eastern direction will be at point C at 3 : 00 PM. So, in this 2 hour, it will fly = 2*200 = 400 miles It is clear from the picture that, the linear distance between the two planes at 3 PM is the AC of the right angled triangle ABC. So, as per Pythagorean theory, AC2 = AB2 + BC2

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Or, AC2 = 3002 + 4002 Or, AC2 = 90000 + 160000 = 250000 Or, AC = 500 [taking square root of both sides] shortcut technique: There are two Pythagorean triplets which we should remember 3:4:5 and 5:12:13 In this problem ratio of two sides of the triangle is 300 & 400. So, obviously, without any calculation, it can be said that, other hand will be 500. So, correct answer is (C) Example 07: Two cyclists start biking from the starting point of a trail 3 hours apart. The second cyclist travels at 10 miles per hour and starts 3 hours after the first cyclist who is travelling at 6 miles per hour. How much time in hours will pass before the second cyclist catches up with the first from the second cyclist started biking? [IBA MBA 2010-11] (A) 2 Solution : Here, both the cyclists are traveling in the same direction. So relative speed is (10-6) = 4 mile/hour As the first cyclist starts 3 hours ago, in this time, s/he will travel = 3*6 = 18 miles We know, S = V X T Here, S = 18 miles, V = 4 mile/hour So, T = S/V = 18/4 = 4.5 hour So, (B) is the correct answer. Example 08: The speed of a boat is 40 km/hr and the speed of stream is 8 km/hr. moving with the stream, the boat went 240 km. What distance in KM will the boat cover during the same time going against the stream?
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(B) 4.5

(C) 0.75

(D) 6

(E) None of these

(A) 80 Solution:

(B) 160

(C) 100

(D) 200

(E) None of these

Here, when the boat was moving along with the stream, the effective speed = 40+8 = 48 km/hr At this speed, to cross 240 km path, it will take = 240/48 = 5 hr time. When, the boat will be returning against the stream, the effective speed will be = 40-8 = 32 km/hr So, at 32 km/hr, in 5 hours, the boat can travel = 32*5 = 160 km So, the correct answer is (B) Example 09: Tanvir is 1/3 of the way across a bridge when he hears a train whistle behind him. A huge locomotive and tons of boxcars are coming at him at 45 mph. Tanvir knows that he can make it to the far edge of the bridge at the exact same instant as the train, but he also knows that he can run toward the train and reach the near end of the bridge just as the train gets there. How fast does Tanvir run? (A) 8 (B) 10 (C) 12 (D) 14 (E) 15 shortcut technique: Tanvir has twice the time to run to point B as he has to run to point A. So the relative speed of Tanvir and the train when Tanvir runs towards the train is twice the relative speed as when he runs away from the train. If Tanvirs speed is u mph, This means 45 + u = 2(45 - u) 45 + u = 90 - 2u Or,3u = 45 So, u = 15 . So correct answer is (E)

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Problems for practice in the class

1. A train covers a distance of 80 km at a speed of 40 km/hr for the first 60 km and the remaining distance at a speed of 20 km/hr. What is the average speed (in km/hr) of the train on the journey? [IBA MBA 2008-2009] (A) 24 (B) 25 (C) 30 (D) 32 (E) None of these 2. Sonia travels to IBA from Uttara by car at a speed of 40 km/hr and returns to Uttara at a speed of 30 km/hour by a CNG. What is her average speed in the entire journey in Km/hour? [IBA 2009-2010] (B) 35 (B) 34.3 (C) 37.5 (D) 35.3 (E) 36 3. Two cars start towards each other from 200 km apart. One car travels at 40 km/hr and the other travels at 35 km/hr. How far apart will be the two cars after 4 hours? (A) 100 (B) 200 (C) 0 (D) 300 (E) None of these 4. A thief is spotted by a policeman from a distance of 400 meter. When the policeman starts chase, the thief starts running to escape. If speed of the thief is 20 km/hr and that of the policeman is 24 km/hr, then how far the thief will have run before he is caught? (A)1 km (B) 2 km (C) 3 km (D) 4 km (E) None of these

5. Sharif ran a 2 mile race at an average speed of 8 miles per hour. If Arif ran the same race at an average speed of 6 miles per hour, how many minutes longer than Sharif did Arif take to complete the race? [IBA MBA 2001-02] (A)15 (B) 10 (C) 8 (D) 5 (E) None of these

6. Arif travels 1/3rd of the distance at an average speed of 5 km/hr, 2/5 th of the distance at an average speed of 4 km/hr and the rest 12 miles in 2 hours. What is the total distance traveled by Arif? [IBA MBA 2001-02] (A)45 (B) 48 (C) 52 (D) 54 (E) None of these

7. Anwar usually walks to his house from his office at a speed of 8 km/hr. It takes him 10 minutes longer to walk the same distance at 6 km/hr. What is the distance (in km) between his house and office? [IBA MBA 2002-03] (A)7 (B) 6 (C) 5 (D) 4 (E) None of these
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8. A train running at 25 km/hr takes 18 seconds to pass a platform. Next it takes 12 seconds to pass a man walking at 5 km/hr in the same direction. Find the length of the platform. (A)100 (B) 50 (C) 90 (D) 35 (E) 25

9. If a boat goes 7 km upstream in 42 minutes and the speed of the stream is 3 km/hr, then the speed of the boat is? (A)10 (B) 5 (C) 3 (D) 8 (E) 2

10. Sujon and Sumon agreed to race a 50 feet pool and back again. They started together but Sujon finished 10 feet ahead of Sumon. If Sujon finishes the race in 27 seconds, how long Sumon will need to finish? (A)10 (B) 50 (C) 30 (D) 18 (E) 27

11. A man started at 8 am from his home, walked at the rate of 3 km/hr and reached his office 45 minutes late. The next day he started at the same time and walked at the rate of 5 km/hr and reached his office 15 minutes earlier than the scheduled time. What was the distance between his office and home? (A)6 (B) 7.5 (C) 9 (D) 12 (E) 18

12. Two cars started from the same point, at 5 am, traveling in opposite directions at 40 and 50 mph respectively. At what time will they be 450 miles apart? (A)6 am (B) 7 am (C) 9 am (D) 10 am (E) 12 pm

13. Two trains, traveling towards each other, left from two stations that are 900 miles apart, at 4 pm. If the rate of the first train is 72 mph and the rate of the second train is 78 mph, after how many hours will they pass each other? (A)4 (B) 5 (C) 6 (D) 10 (E) 12

14. A motor cycle stunt man belonging to a fair rides over the vertical walls of a circular wall at an average speed of 54 km/hour for 5 minutes. If the radius of the wall is 5 meters, then the distance traveled is? [IBA MBA 2009-2010] (A)2.5 km (B) 3.5 km (C) 5 km (D) 4.5 km (E) None

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15. Two trains started from the same point. At 8:00 am the first train traveled East at the rate of 80 mph. At 9:00 am, the second train traveled West at the rate of 100 mph. At what time were they 530 miles apart? (A)9:30 am (B) 10:45 am (C) 11 am (D) 11:15 am (E) 11:30 am

16. There is a dolphin swimming at 250 km per hour and the water flows at 150 km per hour and It is trying to get to his destination, which is 500 miles away. How long would it take him to get to its destination? (A)8 hr (B) 10 hr (C) 11 hr (D) 12 hr (E) 13 hr

17. A passenger train was traveling at a speed of 72km/hr. A man on the passenger train observed a goods train traveling at a speed of 54km/hr in the opposite direction. If the goods train passed him in 8 seconds, what is the length of the goods train in meter? [EMBA11th Batch, Oct-2006] (A) 180 (B) 220 (C) 240 (D) 280 (E) 300

18. Mr. Nader drove from Mymenshingh to Dhaka at 60 miles/hr. Returning on the same route, There was a lot of traffic and he was only able to drive at 40 miles/hr. If the return trip took 1 hr longer, what is the distance between Dhaka & Mymenshingh? [Basic Bank Assistant Manger12] (A) 100 mile (B) 104 mile (C) 106 mile (D) 108 mile (E) 120 mile

19. As house is 5 km east of the city center point and Bs house is 12km south of the said city center point. If the taxi fare is tk 5 per km and there is a triangular road communication System between Bs house, As house and the city center point, how much taka will cost of the triangular trip? [EMBA, Jan-2012] (A) 125 (B) 85 (C) 75 (D) 150 Answer Keys 1. D 2. B 3.A 4.B 13. C 14. D 15.E 16.A 5.D 6.A 17. D 18. E 7.D 8.E 19. D 9.A 10.C 11.B 12.D (E) 140

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