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Time speed and distance is one of the most important and frequently tested topics in quantitative aptitude for competitive exams. It is asked in almost every major exam including CAT, SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, Bank PO, Bank Clerk, Railway RRB and CSAT. A strong understanding of time speed and distance concept, formulas and tricks is essential for scoring well in these exams. In this post we cover everything from the basic formula Distance = Speed × Time, average speed formula, problems when a person goes and comes back at different speeds, concept of relative speed for same direction and opposite direction, trains crossing problems, meeting point formula, stoppage time formula, accident problems with speed reduction, and to and fro motion concept — all explained with multiple methods and solved examples.

📚 What You Will Learn in This Post

Distance Speed Time Formula — Basic Concept and Average Speed

Go and Come Back Problems — Same Distance Different Speed Formula

Relative Speed — Same Direction and Opposite Direction Formula

Trains Crossing Problems — Length and Speed Formula

Meeting Point Formula — Two Objects Moving Towards Each Other

Stoppage Time Formula — Speed With and Without Stoppage

To and Fro Motion — nth Meeting Formula

                       Time Speed & Distance
Concept:-

● Distance = Speed × Time
● Average Speed = \(\frac{{Total\;distance\;covered}}{{Total\;time\;taken}}\)

● A man covers a certain distance with S₁ km/h & come back with y km/h. He takes t hours to go and come back.
Now to find out distance:

d

Example: A boy goes to school at 3 km/h and return at a speed of 5 km/h. If he takes 9.6 hours in all. Find the distance of school from his home.
Sol:-
d = \(\frac{{3 \times 5}}{{(3 + 5)}} \times 9.6\)
d = 18 km             Answer

● A man goes a certain distance with S₂ km/h & come back with S₁ km/h. If he takes t hours more to come back than go. Now to find the distance:
\(\frac{d}{{{S_2}}} – \frac{d}{{{S_1}}} = t\)

Example: A man goes to school at 3 km/h & comes back at a speed o 5 km/h. If he takes 4 hours more in Come back than go. Find the distance of school.
Sol:-
d = \(\frac{{3 \times 5}}{{(5 – 3)}} \times 4\) = 30 km                 Answer

● A man covers a certain distance at the speed of S₁ km/h, then he is late by ‘a’ hours but if he travels at the speed of S₂ km/h, then reaches ‘b’ hours earlier. Now to find the distance between two points:

right timeright time

Example: Starting from his house one day, a student walks @ 1.5 km/h and reaches his school 12 minute late. Next day he increases his speed @ 2 km/h and reaches the school 8 minutes earlier. How far is the school from his house ?
Sol:-

d = \(\frac{{1.5 \times 3.5}}{2} \times \frac{{\left( {20} \right)}}{{60}}\)
d = \(\frac{7}{8}\) Km            Answer

Example: A man covers a certain distance by his car. Had he travelled 4 km/h faster then he takes 8 hour less time. But if he drive 3 km/h slower then he takes 18 hours more. Find the distance.
Sol:-
d = \(\frac{{S(S + 4)}}{4} \times 8 = \frac{{S \times (S – 3)}}{3} \times 18\)
⟹ S(S + 4)×2 = S(S – 3)×6
2S + 8 = 6S – 18
4S = 26
S = 6.5 km/h
∴ d = \(\frac{{6.5(6.5 + 4)}}{4} \times 8\)
d = 136.5 Km              Answer

Concept of relative speed:-
If speed  has direction then it is called velocity i.e. velocity describes how fast and in what direction an object is moving
So if two objects have velocity V₁ & V₂ and distance between them be d then stop any one object & reverse direction of its velocity and give it to other object.

dVVVStopdVVVStopHenceSSTwo objects in same directionrelative speed = (S - S)SSTwo objects in opposite directionrelative speed = (S + S)

● Two trainds Tr₁ & Tr₂ are moving in the same direction with a speed x & y respectively (y > x). The driver of Train₁ observes that the Tr₂ coming from behind overtake and crossed his train completely in t₁ time whereas a driver on Tr₂ observer that he cross the Tr₁ in t₂ time. Then to find the ratio of length of both the train:
Tr₁ + Tr₂ = (y – x)t₁ …………… (i)
& Tr₁ = (y – x)t₂ ……………. (ii)
divide both equation
\(\frac{{T{r_1} + T{r_2}}}{{T{r_1}}} = \frac{{{t_1}}}{{{t_2}}}\)
\(1 + \frac{{T{r_2}}}{{T{r_1}}} = \frac{{{t_1}}}{{{t_2}}}\)

i.e. in such type of question there is not any need of speed of trains.

Example: The ratio of speeds of a goods and passenger train is 5 : 7 in the same direction. If passenger train crosses the goods train in 50 sec while a passenger in passenger train observes that he croses the goods train in 20 sec. Find the ratio of length of goods train to that of passenger train.
Sol:
\(Lengt{h_{Goods\;:\;}}Lengt{h_{passenger}}\) = 20 : (50 – 20)
                                                 = 2 : 3             Answer

meeting pointobjectobjecttttime toreach Btime toreach A

meeting  time = ?
Let A to B distance = d
Speed of object₁ = S₁
Speed of object₂ = S₂
Let object meet after t time.
∴ distance travelled by obj₁ in t time  + distance travelled by obj₂ in t time = total distance
S₁t + S₂t = d
t = \(\frac{d}{{{S_1} + {S_2}}}\) ………………. (i)
& d = S₁t₁ ⟹ S₁ = \(\frac{d}{{{t_1}}}\)
d = S₂t₂ ⟹ S₂ = \(\frac{d}{{{t_2}}}\)
put above value of S₁ & S₂ in equation (i)
t = \(\frac{d}{{\frac{d}{{{t_1}}} + \frac{d}{{{t_2}}}}}\)

Example: A train starts from delhi at 01:00 am and reached mumbai at 9:00 pm. Another train starts from mumbai at 1:00 am & reached delhi at 07:00 am next day. Find the meeting time ?
Sol: meeting time = \(\frac{{20 \times 30}}{{20 + 30}}\) = 12 h
= 01:00 am + 12 h
 = 01:00 pm             Answer

● 2 Guns were fired from the same place at an interval of ‘t’ hours but a man approaching the place hears the second firing after t₂ hours (t₂ < t₁) after the first. If sthen speed of sound is x km/h and that of man is y km/h, then ratio of speed of sound to that of man

Proof: the second gun was fired after t₁ hour. So if the man was not moving then he had heard its sound after t₂ hour
So, distance between place and man = xt₁ …………. (i)
Now, Since the man is moving towards Gun. So by using concept of relative speed ⟹ stop the man ⟹ reverse direction of its speed ⟹ give it to gun
then distance between place and man = (x + y)t₂ …………. (ii)
equate equation (i) and (ii)
xt₁ = (x + y)t₂

(t > t)

but if the man is going away from the gun 
then equation (ii) become (x – y)t₂

(t > t)i.e.

Example: Two guns were fired from the same place at an interval of 28 minutes but a man sitting in the train approaching the gun hears the second firing after 26 minutes after th Iˢᵗ. If the speed of the sound is 325 m/sec, find the speed of train.
Sol:

\(\frac{{Speed\;of\;sound}}{{Speed\;of\;train}} = \frac{{26}}{{(28 – 26)}}\)

× 2532525 m/sec× 25Answer

Example: The buses are departed after every 30 minutes from a bus stop but the man going away from the bus stop get the bus after every 35 minutes. Find the speed of Bus if the speed of man is 20 km/h ?
Sol: \(\frac{{Speed\;of\;bus}}{{Speed\;of\;man}} = \frac{{35}}{{(35 – 30)}}\)

× 20140 km/h20 km/h× 20Answer

● A and B starts walking towards each other. After meeting A covers his distance in t₁ time & B cover s his distance in t₂ time then ratio of their speeds

Proof:Meeting PointAtBtAtBtAB

Let they meet after ‘t’ time
∴ At = Bt₂ ⟹ t = \(\frac{B}{A}{t_2}\) ……………….. (i)
& Bt = At₁ ⟹ t = \(\frac{A}{B}{t_2}\) ……………….. (ii)
equate equation (i) & (ii)
\(\frac{B}{A}{t_2} = \frac{A}{B}{t_1}\)
⟹ \(\frac{A}{B} = \sqrt {\frac{{{t_2}}}{{{t_1}}}} \)

(Q). 2 men A & B start moving from Delhi to jaipur at the same time toward each other, after meeting on the way they cover their remaining journey in 49 minute & 36 minute respectively. Find the faster speed if faster speed is 30 km/h more than slower.
Sol:-

1 unit30 km/h×30×30210 km/h Answer

● Without any stoppage a person travels a certain distance at avg. speed of F km/h and with stoppage it travels the same distance with 5 km/h avg. speed. To find how many min per hour does he stop
\(Minute/hour\;Stoppage = \left( {\frac{{Faster\;Speed\left( F \right) – Slower\;Speed\left( S \right)}}{{Faster\;Speed\left( F \right)}} \times 60} \right)\ \;min /h\)

Proof:- Let at faster speed F distance is covered in t₁ time & at slower speed S distance is covered in t₂ time.
∴ Ft₁ = St₂ 
\(\frac{{{t_1}}}{{{t_2}}} = \frac{S}{F}\) ⟹ \(\frac{{{t_1} – {t_2}}}{{{t_2}}} = \frac{{S – F}}{F}\)

total stoppage in hr.time in which there are stoppage

Example: Excluding stoppage the speed of bus is 80 km/h & including stoppage it is 60 km/h. How many minute does the bus stops per hour.
Sol:-     
\(\left( {\frac{{80 – 60}}{{80}}} \right) \times 60\min /h\)
15 min/h            Answer

ddt timemoret timemoreDestinationDBAVtrainSpeed reduces by factor 'a'Train stops 't' times after accidentCondition (i):time taken afteraccident at ANormal time to reachdestination from point At - t = ....................... (i)Condition(ii):time taken afteraccident at BNormal time to reachdestination from point B

t₂ – t = \(\left( {\frac{{d – {d_1}}}{v}} \right)\left( {\frac{{1 – a}}{a}} \right)\)
\(\left( {\frac{{d – {d_1}}}{v}} \right) = \left( {{t_2} – t} \right)\left( {\frac{a}{{1 – a}}} \right)\)
\(\frac{d}{v} – \frac{{{d_1}}}{v} = \left( {{t_2} – t} \right)\left( {\frac{a}{{1 – a}}} \right)\)
put value of \(\frac{d}{v}\) in above equation from equation (i).
\(\left( {\frac{{{t_1} – t}}{{1 – a}}} \right).a – \frac{{{d_1}}}{v} = \left( {\frac{{{t_2} – t}}{{1 – a}}} \right).a\)
\(\frac{{{d_1}}}{v} = \left( {\frac{a}{{1 – a}}} \right)\left( {{t_1} – {t_2}} \right)\)

& total distance travelled by train =

Language of question: After travelling ‘x’ hours, a train meets with an accident. Due to this  it has to stop for ‘t’ hours. After  this the train starts moving at ‘a’ times of its original speed and reaches to its destination ‘t₁’ hour late. If the accident occured ‘d₁’ km ahead on the same line then the train reaches destination ‘t₂’ hour late. Find the original speed of the train.

Example: After travelling 5 hours a train meets with an accident. Due to this it has to stop for 2 hours. After this the train starts moving at \(55\frac{5}{9}\% \) of its speed, and reaches to its destination \(12\frac{2}{9}\) hours late. If the accident occured 150 km ahead on the same line then the train reaches destination \(10\frac{8}{9}\) hours late. Find the original speed of the train and distance travelled by the train.
Sol:-

method(i):d150 kmABDestination

Let speed of train = v
Normal time to reach form A to D = \(\frac{d}{v}\) ………………….. (i)
when accident happened at A & train travels at \(55\frac{5}{9}\% \) = \(\frac{5}{9}\) of its speed then

2 + ................. (ii)time to reach form A to D =Stop

∴ subtract (i) from (ii)
Extra time taken to reach from A to D = \*2 + \frac{9}{{5v}}.d – \frac{d}{v}\)
⟹ \(12\frac{2}{9} = 2 + \frac{4}{5}.\frac{d}{v}\)
\(\frac{d}{v} = \frac{{115}}{9}\) ……………………… (iii)
when accident happened at B

2 + ................. (iv)time to reach form B to D =Stop

Normal time to reach from B to D = \(\frac{{d – 150}}{v}\) …………………..(v)
Extra time to reach from B to D = \(2 + \frac{{d – 150}}{{\frac{5}{9}v}} – \frac{{d – 150}}{v}\)
= \(2 + \left( {\frac{{d – 150}}{v}} \right).\frac{4}{5}\)
⟹ \(10\frac{8}{9} = 2 + \left( {\frac{{d – 150}}{v}} \right).\frac{4}{5}\)
\(\frac{{d – 150}}{v} = \frac{{100}}{9}\)
⟹ \(\frac{d}{v} – \frac{{150}}{v} = \frac{{100}}{9}\)
put value of \(\frac{d}{v}\) in above equation from equation (iii
\(\frac{{115}}{9} – \frac{{150}}{v} = \frac{{100}}{9}\))
\(\frac{{150}}{v} = \frac{{115}}{9}\)

V = 90 km/h                Answer

Put this value of V in equation (iii)
\(d = \frac{{115}}{9} \times 90 = 1150\;km\)
∴ total distance travelled = 5×90 + 1150
1600 Km                       Answer

method(2):

\(v = \frac{d}{{\left( {{t_1} – {t_2}} \right)}}.\left( {\frac{{1 – a}}{a}} \right)\)
\(v = \frac{{150}}{{\left( {12\frac{2}{9} – 10\frac{8}{9}} \right)}}.\left( {\frac{{1 – \frac{5}{9}}}{{\frac{5}{9}}}} \right)\)
= \(\frac{{150}}{{\frac{4}{3}}} \times \frac{4}{5}\)
90 km               Answer
& total distance
= \(v.x + \left( {\frac{{{t_1} – t}}{{{t_1} – {t_2}}}} \right).{d_1}\)
 = \(90 \times 5 + \left( {\frac{{12\frac{2}{9} – 2}}{{12\frac{2}{9} – 10\frac{8}{9}}}} \right).150\)
1600 km                  Answer

method(3):

Condition (i):old newSpeedTime9 : 55 : 94 unit1 unitCondition (ii):old newSpeedTime9 : 55 : 94 unit1 unit

∴ Speed = \(\frac{{150}}{{\frac{{115}}{9} – \frac{{100}}{9}}}\) = 90 km/h                Ansewr

Total distance = 90×5 + \(\frac{{115}}{9}\)×90 = 1600 km                Answer

To and Fro motion

Concept:

(a) When two bodies start moving towards each other
Let initial distance between them = D
Speed of A = \({S_A}\)
Speed of B = \({S_B}\)
● To meet they travel distances proportional to their individual velocities.
● They will cover the distance in proportion to their respective velocities regardless of the number  of meetings. Thus total distance travelled for the nᵗʰ meeting is (2n – 1)D

(b) When two bodies start moving towards the same direction
● 
At any instance, the distance travelled by the bodies are proportional to the ratio of their velocities.
● Total distance travelled for nᵗʰ meeting is (2nD)

❓ Frequently Asked Questions on Time Speed and Distance

Q1. What is the basic formula for time speed and distance?

The basic formula is Distance = Speed × Time. From this we get Speed = Distance divided by Time and Time = Distance divided by Speed. Average speed = Total distance divided by Total time taken. These fundamental formulas are the foundation of all speed and distance problems asked in competitive exams.

Q2. How to find distance when a person goes and comes back at different speeds?

When a person covers a certain distance at speed S1 and returns at speed S2 taking total time T then distance = S1×S2×T divided by (S1+S2). If he takes t hours more to come back then distance = S1×S2×t divided by (S2-S1). These formulas are very frequently asked in CAT, SSC CGL, Bank PO and Railway exams.

Q3. What is relative speed and how is it calculated?

Relative speed is the speed of one object with respect to another. When two objects move in the same direction relative speed = difference of their speeds. When they move in opposite directions relative speed = sum of their speeds. To find relative speed stop one object and give the combined effect to the other object.

Q4. How to solve train crossing problems?

When two trains cross each other the total distance covered = sum of their lengths. Use relative speed based on direction. Same direction relative speed = difference of speeds. Opposite direction relative speed = sum of speeds. Time to cross = Total length divided by Relative speed. These problems are very commonly asked in Railway RRB and Bank PO exams.

Q5. What is the meeting point formula?

When two objects start from opposite ends towards each other with speeds S1 and S2 and total distance D then meeting time = D divided by (S1+S2). If they reach their respective destinations in t1 and t2 time then meeting time = square root of (t1×t2). After meeting ratio of remaining distances = ratio of their speeds.

Q6. What is the stoppage time formula?

When a person travels without stoppage at speed F km/h and with stoppage at speed S km/h then stoppage time per hour = (F-S)/F × 60 minutes. For example if speed without stoppage is 80 km/h and with stoppage is 60 km/h then stoppage = (80-60)/80 × 60 = 15 minutes per hour.

Q7. What is to and fro motion concept?

When two objects start moving towards each other the total distance covered for the nth meeting = (2n-1)×D where D is initial distance. When they start in the same direction total distance for nth meeting = 2n×D. At any instance distance covered by each object is proportional to their respective speeds regardless of number of meetings.

Q8. Where can I practice time speed and distance questions?

After understanding the concept you can practice on our Time Speed and Distance Exercise page which contains solved practice questions. You can also check our Boat and Stream Concept and Races and Circular Motion Concept for related topics.