How to Solve Speed, Distance, and Time Problems Easily
Riya used to come home late after school, cycling at a slower speed, while her friend Diya came home early as she was cycling faster than Riya. Speed refers to how fast something is moving or capable of moving.
In mathematics, speed is measured as the distance travelled/travelled per unit of time. The distance travelled is in kilometres, and the time is in hours, so the unit of measurement for speed is "km" per "hour" or km/h.
Speed in Speedometer
Table of Units in Common Use for Speed
Here, we will see the different terms regarding speed, distance, and time. Also, the abbreviation has been added to make it more readable.
Units used for Speed and their Abbreviations
Solved Example Problems on Speed Distance and Time
Let’s see the speed, distance, and time formula and some solved questions based on it.
Type 1: Formula for Speed = $\dfrac{\text{Distance (in unit of length)}}{\text{Time (in unit of time)}}$
Example 1: A car covers a distance of $224 \mathrm{~km}$ between Goa and Mumbai in 4 hours. Find its average speed.
Ans: Average Speed $=$ $\dfrac{\text{Total distance covered}}{\text{Total time taken }}$
$\dfrac{224\,Km}{4\,hr}=56\,Km/hr$
Therefore, its average speed is 56 km/hr.
Example 2: The train's speed is $108 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{h}$. Find its speed in metres per second.
Ans:
$ 1 \mathrm{~km}=1000m$
$\text { Speed }=108\left(\frac{\mathrm{Km}}{\mathrm{Hr}}\right)$
Also, we know that 1 minute $=60$ seconds
Therefore, that's 1 hour. $=60 \times 60=3600$ seconds
By using the above stats, we get
$=108\left(\dfrac{1000 \mathrm{~m}}{3600 \mathrm{~s}}\right)$
$=30\left(\dfrac{\mathrm{m}}{\mathrm{s}}\right)$
Therefore, its speed is $=30\left(\dfrac{\mathrm{m}}{\mathrm{s}}\right)$.
Example 3: Latvija covers the first 120 km in 2 hours and the next 180 km in 4 hours. What is his average speed over the entire journey in km/h?
Ans: Total distance travelled = 120 + 180 = 300 km.
Total time taken = 2 + 4 = 6 hours.
Average speed = $\dfrac{\text{Total distance travelled}}{\text{Total time spent}}$
$=\dfrac{300}{6}=50 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{h}$
Type 2: Speed and Distance Formula
Average speed = Total distance travelled / Total time spent
Solved Examples based on Distance and Time:
Example 1: Using the average speed formula, find the average speed of Sam, who covers the first 200 kilometres in 4 hours and the next 160 kilometres in another 4 hours.
Ans: To find the average speed, we need the total distance and the total time.
Total distance covered by Sam = 200 Km + 160 km = 360 km
Total time taken by Sam = 4 hour + 4 hour = 8 hour
Average Speed = $\dfrac{\text{Total distance covered}} {\text{Total time taken}}$
Average Speed = $\dfrac{360}{8}$
= 45 km/hr
Therefore, their average speed of Sam is 45lm/hr.
Example 2: A cyclist rides at $10 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{h}$ for 2 hours then at $13 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{h}$ for 1 hour. Find its average speed.
Ans:
Distance travelled in the first 2 hours $=10 \times 2=20 \mathrm{~km}$
Distance travelled in the next hour $=13 \times 1=13 \mathrm{~km}$
Total distance travelled $=20+13=33 \mathrm{~km}$
Total time spent $=2+1=3 h r s$
Average speed $=$ $\dfrac{\text{Total distance travelled}}{\text{Total time spent }}$
$=\dfrac{33}{3}=11 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{hr}$
Type 3. Average Speed - If the Travel Time is the Same.
Speed Distance Time problems: In this type of problem, the travel time is always the same.
Example 1: A motorist drives for one hour at an average speed of 45 km/h, and for the next hour at an average speed of 65 km/h. What is your average speed?
Ans: $\dfrac{(45 + 65)}{2}=55 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{hr}$
The total distance covered by the car driver in these two hours was $65+45=110 \mathrm{~km}$, and it took two hours.
Therefore your average speed $=55 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{h}$.
Example 2: Radha can type 960 letters in 20 mins.
Calculate her typing speed in the:
(a) Words per min.
(b) Words per hour.
Ans:
Words per min. $=\dfrac{960}{20}$
$=48$ words per minute
Words per hour. $=48 \times 60$
$=2880$ words per hour.
Type 4. Average speed: If the distance covered is the same:
Speed Distance Problems: In this type of problem, the distance covered is always the same.
Example: On the way from the hospital to the Pimpri department, I drive at 30 km/h and back at 45 km/h. What is my average travel speed?
Ans: 37.5 km/h is inappropriate as the time travel is different in both cases, and only the distances are the same. Let the distance between the hospital and the Pimpri ward be x km.
The time spent on the outward journey $=\dfrac{x}{30}$ hour and the time spent on the return journey $=\dfrac{x}{45}$
$\therefore$ Total round trip time $=\dfrac{x}{30}+\dfrac{x}{45}$ $=\dfrac{5 x}{90}$ hours.
Total distance travelled in both directions $=2 \times x \mathrm{km}$
$\therefore$ Average speed $\dfrac{2x}{\dfrac{5x}{90}}=36 \mathrm{kmph}$
Practice Questions
Let’s see some of the speed distance time questions for Class 5:
Q 1 An aeroplane covers a certain distance in 5 hours at a speed of 240 km/h. To travel the same distance in 1 hour, at what speed must he travel:
Ans: 720 km/hr.
Q 2. How many minutes for the bus per hour? Excluding stops, the speed of a bus is 54 km/h, and including stops, it is 45 km/h.
Ans: 10 min.
Q 3. Determine the time it takes when the distance is 7150 km, and the speed is 780 km/h.
Ans: 9.16 hr
Summary
Speed tells us how fast something or someone is travelling. You can find the average speed of an object if you know the distance travelled and the time it took. The formula for speed is speed = distance ÷ time. To work out what the units are for speed, you need to know the units for distance and time. In mathematics, speed is measured as the distance travelled per unit of time.
The distance travelled is in kilometres, and the time is in hours, so the unit of measurement for speed is "km" per "hour" or km/h. If the distance is in metres and the time is in minutes, then the speed is 'm' for 'minute' or m/min. You can also read this offline. Just download the speed distance time questions for Class 5 PDF from our website.
FAQs on Speed Distance Time Questions and Answers for Class 5
1. What is the main formula used to solve Speed, Distance, and Time questions for Class 5?
The main formula that connects speed, distance, and time is Speed = Distance / Time. This is the fundamental concept you will use to solve most problems in this chapter. It means speed is the measure of how much distance is covered in a certain amount of time.
2. How is the concept of speed, distance, and time used in our daily lives?
We use these concepts every day, often without realising it. For example, when you plan a trip, you estimate the travel time based on the distance and the car's speed. A vehicle's speedometer shows its real-time speed. We also use it to figure out how long it will take to walk to school or a park based on how far away it is.
3. How does the formula change if you need to find the distance instead of the speed?
To find the distance when you know the speed and time, you can rearrange the main formula. The new formula becomes Distance = Speed × Time. For instance, if a bus travels at a speed of 50 km/h for 3 hours, the distance it covers is 50 × 3 = 150 kilometres.
4. What is the formula to calculate the time taken for a journey?
To calculate the time taken, you once again rearrange the main formula. The formula to find time is Time = Distance / Speed. For example, if you need to travel a distance of 20 km and your cycling speed is 10 km/h, it will take you 20 / 10 = 2 hours.
5. Why is it important for a Class 5 student to learn about speed, distance, and time?
Understanding this topic is important because it builds a strong foundation for future science and maths concepts. It improves your logical thinking and problem-solving skills. More importantly, it has practical applications in real life, like planning schedules, understanding travel, and making sense of measurements in the world around you.
6. What is the most important rule about units when solving speed, distance, and time problems?
The most important rule is to ensure all your units are consistent. If the speed is given in kilometres per hour (km/h), then the distance must be in kilometres (km) and the time must be in hours (h). Mixing units, such as using time in minutes with speed in km/h, is a common mistake that leads to incorrect answers.
7. What are the common types of speed, distance, and time problems in Class 5 Maths?
As per the CBSE syllabus for the 2025-26 session, Class 5 students will typically encounter a few basic types of problems:
Calculating the speed when distance and time are given.
Calculating the distance when speed and time are known.
Calculating the time when speed and distance are provided.
Simple word problems that require you to identify the given values and find the missing one.
8. Who first discovered the formula for speed?
The Italian physicist Galileo Galilei is credited as the first person to measure speed by considering the distance travelled and the time taken. He defined speed as the distance covered per unit of time, which gave us the formula we use today.
