Speed, Distance and Time

Speed, distance and time are linked by three important formulas.

Formula Triangle

      Distance
     ----------
     Speed | Time

Cover the value you want to find:

  • Speed = Distance ÷ Time

  • Distance = Speed × Time

  • Time = Distance ÷ Speed

Example

A car travels 120 km in 2 hours.

Speed=Time ÷ Distance​

Speed= 120 ÷ 2

speed = 60km/h

✅ Answer: 60 km/h

2. Finding Distance

Example

A train travels at 80 km/h for 3 hours.

Distance = speed x Time

Distance = 80 × 3

Distance = 240 km


✅ Answer: 240 km

3. Finding Time

Example

A cyclist travels 90 km at 15 km/h.

Time = Distance


✅ Answer: 6 hours

2. Finding Distance

Example

A train travels at 80 km/h for 3 hours.

Distance= Speed× Time

✅ Answer: 240 kmq

Converting Units

Hours to Minutes

Multiply by 60.

2 hours=120 minutes2 \text{ hours} = 120 \text{ minutes}2 hours=120 minutes

Minutes to Hours

Divide by 60.

30 minutes=3060=0.5 hours30 \text{ minutes} = \frac{30}{60} = 0.5 \text{ hours}30 minutes=6030​=0.5 hours

GCSE-Style Questions

Question 1

A runner covers 10 km in 50 minutes.

Convert 50 minutes to hours:

50÷60=5650 \div 60 = \frac{5}{6}50÷60=65​

Now calculate speed:

10÷5610 \div \frac{5}{6}10÷65​ 10×6510 \times \frac{6}{5}10×56​ 121212

✅ Speed = 12 km/h

Question 2

A bus travels at 72 km/h for 2.5 hours.

Distance=72×2.5\text{Distance}=72\times2.5Distance=72×2.5 =180=180=180

✅ Distance = 180 km

Question 3

A car travels 150 miles at 50 mph.

Time=15050\text{Time}=\frac{150}{50}Time=50150​ =3=3=3

✅ Time = 3 hours

Challenge Questions

1.

A train travels 360 km in 4 hours.

Speed=3604\text{Speed}=\frac{360}{4}Speed=4360​

✅ 90 km/h

2.

A cyclist rides at 18 km/h for 2.5 hours.

18×2.518 \times 2.518×2.5

✅ 45 km

3.

A plane travels 1400 km at 350 km/h.

1400350\frac{1400}{350}3501400​

✅ 4 hours

Exam Tip 📝

Always:

  1. Write the formula first.

  2. Put values into the formula.

  3. Check units are consistent (hours with km/h, seconds with m/s).

  4. Include units in your final answer.

Speed = Distance ÷ Time
Distance = Speed × Time
Time = Distance ÷ Speed ✅