1

SHORTCUT ON
TIME, SPEED AND DISTANCE

This Chapter is taken from our Book:

ISBN : 978-9386146618
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9
CHAPTER

Time, Speed and Distance

1. The driver of a maruti car driving at the speed 1

EXAMPLE \ Bus travels 330 30m in 14 min.
of 68 km/h locates a bus 40 metres ahead of him travelling 2
in the same direction. After 10 seconds, the bus is 60 metres \ Speed of the bus per hour
behind. The speed of the bus is. 330 30 2 60 99 12 1188 28
= = = = 40 km / hr
Sol. Let speed of Bus = SB km/h. 29 1000 29 29 29
Now, in 10 sec., car covers the relative distance EXAMPLE 4. A hare sees a dog 100 m away from her and
= (60 + 40) m = 100 m scuds off in the opposite direction at a speed of 12 km/h. A minute
later the dog perceives her and gives chase at a speed of 16 km/
100
\ Relative speed of car = = 10 m/s h. How soon will the dog overtake the hare and at what distance
10 from the spot where the hare took flight?
18 Sol. Suppose the hare at H sees the dog at D.
= 10 = 36 km / h
5
\ 68 SB = 36 D K
H
SB = 32km / h \ DH = 100 m
Let K be the position of the hare where the dog sees her.
EXAMPLE 2. If a person goes around an equilateral triangle \ HK = the distance gone by the hare in 1 min
shaped field at speed of 10, 20 and 40 kmph on the first, second 12 1000
and third side respectively and reaches back to the starting point, = 1m = 200 m
then find his average speed during the journey. 60
Sol. Let the measure of each side of triangle is D km. The \ DK = 100 + 200 = 300 m
person travelled the distance from A to B with 10 kmph, The hare thus has a start of 300 m.
B to C with 20 kmph and C to A with 40 kmph. Now the dog gains (16 12) or 4 km/h.
60 300 1
A \ The dog will gain 300 m in min or 4 min.
4 1000 2
1
Again, the distance gone by the hare in 4 min
2
D 12 1000 1
D = 4 = 900m
60 2
\ Distance of the place where the hare is caught from
the spot H where the hare took flight = 200 + 900 = 1100 m
B D C EXAMPLE 5. A train starts from A to B and another from B
If TAB = Time taken by the person to travel from A to B, to A at the same time. After crossing each other they complete
TBC = Time taken by the person to travel from B to C and 1 4
TCA = Time taken by the person to travel from C to A. their journey in 3 and 2 hours respectively. If the speed of
2 7
Then total time = TAB + TBC + TCA the first is 60 km/h, then find the speed of the second train.
=
D D D
+ + 8 + 4 + 2 7D Sol.
= D =
10 20 40 80 40 4
Total distance travelled = D + D + D = 3D 2
1st train 's speed y 7 = 18 2 = 6
Hence, average speed = =
2nd train 's speed x 1 7 7 7
3
3D 120 1 2
= = = 17 kmph.
7D 7 7 60 6
40 \ =
2nd train 's speed 7
EXAMPLE 3. Two guns were fired from the same place at an 2nd trains speed = 70 km/h.
interval of 15 min, but a person in a bus approaching the place 3
hears the second report 14 min 30 sec after the first. Find the EXAMPLE 6. A boy walking at of his usual speed, reaches
5
speed of the bus, supposing that sound travels 330 m per sec.
his school 14 min late. Find his usual time to reach the school.
Sol. Distance travelled by the bus in 14 min 30 sec could be
travelled by sound in (15 min 14 min 30 sec) = 30 14 14 3
second. Sol. Usual time = = = 21 min
5 2
-1
3
 3
EXAMPLE 7. A train after travelling 50 km, meets with an EXAMPLE 11. A man takes 6 hours 30 min. in going by a
4 cycle and coming back by scooter. He would have lost 2 hours 10
accident and then proceeds at of its former rate and arrives at min by going on cycle both ways. How long would it take him to
5
the terminal 45 minutes late. Had the accident happened 20 km go by scooter both ways?
further on, it would have arrived 12 minutes sooner. Find the Sol. Clearly, time taken by him to go by scooter both way
speed of the train and the distance. 1
Sol. Let A be the starting place, B the terminal, C and D the = 6h.30m 2h.10m = 4h.20m = 4 h
3
places where the accidents to be placed.
EXAMPLE 12. A man travels 120 km by ship, 450 km by rail
A C D B and 60 km by horse taking altogether 13 hrs 30 min. The speed
4 5 of the train is 3 times that of the horse and 1 times that of the
By travelling at of its original rate the train would take ship. Find the speed of the train.
5 4
Sol. If the speed of the horse is x km/hr; that of the train is 3x and
1
of its usual time, i.e., of its original time more. 3x
4
that of the ship is = 2x km/hr
1 1
\ of the usual time taken to travel the distance
4 120 450 60 27
CB = 45 min. ...(i) \ + + =
2x 3x x 2
1
and of the usual time taken to travel the distance 60 150 60 27 270 27
4 \ + + = \ =
x x x 2 x 2
DB = (45 12) min ...(ii)
Subtracting (ii) from (i), \ x = 20 \ Speed of the train = 60 km/hr..
1
of the usual time taken to travel the distance EXAMPLE 13. Rajesh travelled from the city A to city B
4
CD = 12 min. covering as much distance in the second part as he did in the
\ Usual time taken on travel 20 km = 48 min. first part of his journey. His speed during the second part was
twice his speed during the first part of the journey. What is his
20
\ Speed of the train per hour = 60 or 25 km/h. average speed of journey during the entire travel ?
48
(1) His average speed is the harmonic mean of the individual
From (i), we have speed for the two parts.
Time taken to travel CB = 45 4 min = 3 hrs.
\ The distance CB = 25 3 or 75 km. (2) His average speed is the arithmetic mean of the individual
Hence the distance AB = the distance (AC + CB) speed for the two parts.
= 50 + 75 or 125 km. (3) His average speed is the geometric mean of the individual
EXAMPLE 8. A man covers a certain distance on scooter. speeds for the two parts.
Had he moved 3 km/h faster, he would have taken 20 min less. If (4) Cannot be determined.
he had moved 2 km/h slower, he would have taken 20 min more. Sol. (1) The first part is of the total distance & the second part
Find the original speed. is of the total distance. Suppose, he travels at a km/hr
speed during the first half & b km/hr speed during the second
2 (3 2)
Sol. Speed = = 12km / hr. half. When distance travelled is the same in both parts of
3 2
2ab
EXAMPLE 9. A boy walking at a speed of 10 km/h reaches the journey, the average speed is gives by the formula
a+b
his school 12 min late. Next time at a speed of 15 km/h reaches i.e. the harmonic mean of the two speeds.
his school 7 min late. Find the distance of his school from his
house? 14. Two friends X and Y walk from A to B at a
EXAMPLE
5 1
Sol. Difference between the time = 12 7 = 5 min = = hr 1
60 12 distance of 39 km, at 3 km an hour and 3 km an hour
2
15 10 1 150 1 respectively. Y reaches B, returns immediately and meet x at C.
Required distance = = = 2.5 km
15 - 10 12 5 12 Find the distance from A to C .
Sol. When Y meets X at C, Y has walked the distance AB + BC
EXAMPLE 10. A bus leaves Ludhiana at 5 am and reaches
and X has walked the distance AC.
Delhi at 12 noon. Another bus leaves Delhi at 8 am and reaches Y
Ludhiana at 3 pm. At what time do the buses meet?
Sol. Converting all the times into 24 hour clock time, we get 5
am = 500, 12 noon = 1200, 8 am = 800 and 3 pm = 1500
A B

Required time = 500 + (1200 500)(1500 500) C

y
(1200 500) + (1500 800)
X
700 1000
= 500 + = 1000 = 10 am.
700 + 700 So, both X and Y have walked together a distance
4
= 2 AB = 2 39 = 78 km . But if they walk in the same direction,
1 6
The ratio of the speeds of X and Y is 3 : 3 i.e, 16
2 7 time = = 32 hours
1
Hence , the distance travelled by X = AC 3 -3
318. How long does a train 90 m long running at
6 EXAMPLE
= 78 = 36 km the rate of 54 km/h take to cross
6+7
EXAMPLE 15. A man rides one-third of the distance from A (a) a Mahatma Gandhis statue?
to B at the rate of a kmph and the remaining at the rate of 2b (b) a platform 120 m long?
kmph. If he had travelled at the uniform rate of 3c kmph, he (c) another train 150 m long, standing on another parallel
could have rode from A to B and back again in the same time.
Find a relationship between a, b and c. track?
Sol. Let the distance between A and B is X km and T1 and T2 be (d) another train 160 m long running at 36 km/h in same
the time taken, then direction?
(e) another train 160 m long running at 36 km/h in
X 2X X X a + b
T1 = , T2 = = , T1 + T2 = opposite direction?
3a 6b 3b 3 ab
(f) a man running at 6 km/h in same direction?
2X (g) a man running at 6 km/h in opposite direction?
Let T3 be the time taken in third case, then T3 =
3c Sol. (a) The statue is a stationary object, so time taken by train
2X X 2 a+b 2ab is same as time taken by train to cover a distance equal to
= (a + b) = c=
3c 3ab c ab a+b its own length.
5
Now, 54 km/h = 54 = 15m / s
EXAMPLE 16. Two cyclists start from the same place to ride 18
in the same direction. A starts at noon at 8 kmph and B at 1.30 90
pm at 10kmph. How far will A have ridden before he is overtaken \ Required time = = 6 sec.
15
by B ? Find also at what times A and B will be 5 km apart. (b) The platform is stationary of length = 120 m.
Sol. If A rides for X hours before he is overtaken, then B rides for Length to be covered
(X 15) hrs. = Length of the train + Length of the platform
8X = 10 (X 1.5) X = 7.5
A will have ridden 8 7.5 km or 60 km. = 90 + 120 = 210 m
For the second part, if Y = the required number of hours
\ Required time = 210 = 14 sec.
after noon, then 15
8X = 10 (X 1.5) 5
(c) Length to be covered
X = 10 or 5 according as B is ahead or behind A.
The required times are 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. = Length of the train + length of the other train
= 90 + 150 = 240 m.
EXAMPLE 17. Two men A and B start from a place P walking 240
\ Required time = = 16 sec.
at 3 kmph and 3 kmph respectively. How many km apart will 15
they be at the end of 2 hours ? (d) Another train is moving in same direction.
(i) If they walk in opposite directions ?
Length to be covered
(ii) If they walk in the same direction ?
(iii) What time will they take to be 16 km apart if. = Length of the train + length of the other train
(a) they walk in opposite directions ? = 90 + 160 = 250 m
(b) in the same direction ? Relative speed = 54 36 = 18 kmph.
Sol. (i) When they walk in opposite directions, they will be
250
1 1 \ Required time = = 50 sec.
5
3 + 3 = 6 km apart in 1 hour.. 18
2 2 18
1 1 5 1 (e) Another train is moving in opposite direction.
\ ln 2 hours they will be 6 = 16 km apart. Length to be covered
2 2 2 4
(ii) If they walk in the same direction, they will be = Length of the train + length of the other train
1 1 = 90 + 160 = 250 m
3 - 3 = km apart in 1 hour.. Relative speed = 54 + 36 = 90 kmph
2 2
1 1 5 1 250
ln 2 hours they will be = 1 km apart. \ Required speed = 5 = 10 sec .
2 2 2 4 90
(iii) Time to be 16 km apart while walking in opposite 18
(f) The man is moving in same direction,
16 6 so Length to be covered = Length of the train,
directions = =2 hours.
1 13
3+ 3
2
 5
and relative speed = speed of train speed of man
300
= sec = 12 seconds.
90 25
\ Required time =
5 EXAMPLE 22. A train of length 250m, passes a platform of
(54 6)
18 350 m length in 50s. What time will this train take to pass
90 27 3 the platform of 230m length.
= 3 = = 6 sec.
40 4 4 Sol. Here, L = 250 m, x = 350 m, t1 = 50s,
(g) The man is moving in opposite direction, so y = 230 m and t2 = ?
Length to be covered = Length of the train, and L+y 250 + 230
relative speed = speed of train + speed of man \ t2 = t1 = 50
L+x 250 + 350
90 27 2
\ Required time = = = 5 sec. 480
5 5 5 = 50 = 40s
(54 + 6) 600
18
19. Two trains of equal lengths are running on EXAMPLE 23. From stations A and B, two trains start mov-
EXAMPLE
parallel tracks in the same direction at 46 km/h and 36 km/h, ing towards each other with the speeds of 150 km/h and 130 km/
respectively. The faster train passes the slower train in 36 sec. h, respectively. When the two trains meet each other, it is found
The length of each train is : that one train covers 20 km more than that of another train. Find
the distance between stations A and B.
(a) 50 m (b) 80 m
Sol. Here, a = 150km/h, b = 130 km/h and d = 20 km
(c) 72 m (d) 82 m According to the formula,
(e) None of these
Sol. (a) Let the length of each train be x metres. a+b
Distance between stations A and B= d
Then, the total distance covered = (x + x) = 2x m a -b
10 5 150 + 130 280
Relative speed = (46 36) = 10 km/h = m/s = 20 = 20 = 280 km
18 150 - 130 20
2 x 18 EXAMPLE 24. The distance between two stations P and Q is
Now, 36 = or x = 50 m 110km. A train with speed of 20km/h leaves station P at 7:00 am
50
towards station Q. Another train with speed of 25 km/h leaves
EXAMPLE 20. A train 110 m in length travels at 60 km/h. station Q at 8:00 am towards station P. Then, at what time both
How much time does the train take in passing a man walking at trains meet?
6 km/h against the train ? Sol. Here, d = 110 km, t = 8 : 00 7 : 00 = 1 h
(a) 6 s (b) 12 s a = 20 km/h and b = 25 km/h
(c) 10 s (d) 18 s d + tb
(e) None of these Time taken by trains to meet, T =
a+b
Sol. (a) Relative speeds of the train and the man
110 + (1)(25) 135
66 5 T= =
= (60 + 6) = 66 km/h = m/s 20 + 25 45
18
t=3h
Distance = 110 m
\ They will meet at = 7 : 00 am + 3 h = 10 : 00 am.
Therefore, time taken in passing the men
EXAMPLE 25. The distance between two stations A and B is
110 18
= = 6s 138 km. A train starts from A towards B and another from B to A
66 5 at the same time and they meet after 6 h. The train travelling
EXAMPLE 21. Two trains 137 metres and 163 metres in from A to B is slower by 7 km/h compared to other train from B
length are running towards each other on parallel lines, one at to A, then find the speed of the slower train?
the rate of 42 kmph and another at 48 kmph. In what time will Sol. Here, d = 138 km, t = 6 h and x = 7 km/h
they be clear of each other from the moment they meet? d - tx 138 - (6)(7)
(a) 10 sec (b) 12 sec \ Speed of slower train = =
2t 2(6)
(c) 14 sec (d) cannot be determined
(e) None of these 138 - 42 96
Sol. (b) Relative speed of the trains = = = 8 km/h
12 12
= (42 + 48) kmph = 90 kmph
EXAMPLE 26. A train covers distance between two stations A
5 and B in 2h. If the speed of train is reduced by 6 km/h, then it
= 90 m/sec = 25 m/sec.
18 travels the same distance in 3 h. Calculate the distance between
Time taken by the trains to pass each other two stations and speed of the train.
= Time taken to cover (137 + 163) m at 25 m/sec Sol. Here, t1 = 2h, t2 = 3h, a = 6 km/h and d = ?
(i) Distance between A and B is
6
t t 36 - 1.44 34.56
d = a 1 2 km = = = 2.88 km
12 12
t 2 - t1
EXAMPLE 30. Rajnish can row 12 km/h in still water. It
23 takes him twice as long to row up as to row down the river. Find
d = 6 d = 36 km
3- 2 the rate of stream.
Sol. Here, speed of Rajnish in still water = 12 km/h
a t2 63 n = 2; Speed of stream (a) = ?
(ii) Speed of the train = = = 18 km/h
t 2 - t1 3 2 According to the formula,

EXAMPLE 27. A boat is rowed down a river 28 km in 4 hours a (n + 1)

Speed in still water =
and up a river 12 km in 6 hours. Find the speed of the boat and (n - 1)
the river. a (2 + 1)
Sol. Downstream speed is 28 = 7 kmph 12 = (2 - 1)
4
12 3a = 12
Upstream speed is = 2 kmph 12
6
\a= = 4 km/h
Speed of Boat = 1 (Downstream + Upstream Speed) 3
2 31. Vikas can row a certain distance downstream
EXAMPLE
1 in 6 hours and return the same distance in 9 hours. If the stream
= [7 + 2] = 4.5 kmph
2 flows at the rate of 3 km/h, find the speed of Vikas in still water.
1 Sol. By the formula,
Speed of current = (DownstreamUpstream speed)
2 3(9 + 6 )
1 Vikass speed in still water = = 15 km/h
= (7 2) = 2.5 kmph 96
2
EXAMPLE 32. Two ferries start at the same time from
EXAMPLE 28. P, Q, and R are the three towns on a river
opposite sides of a river, travelling across the water on routes at
which flows uniformly. Q is equidistant from P and R. I row from right angles to the shores. Each boat travels at a constant speed
P to Q and back in 10 hours and I can row from P to R in 4 hours. though their speeds are different. They pass each other at a
Compare the speed of my boat in still water with that of the river. point 720m from the nearer shore. Both boats remain at their
(a) 4 : 3 (b) 5 : 3 sides for 10 minutes before starting back. On the return trip they
(c) 6 : 5 (d) 7 : 3 meet at 400m from the other shore. Find the width of the river.
(e) None of these (a) 1760m (b) 1840m
Sol. (c) Let the speed of the boat be v1 and the speed of the (c) 2000m (d) Cannot be found
current be v2 and d be the distance between the cities. (e) None of these
d d Sol. (a)
Now, = 4 and =6 Let the width of the river be x.
v1 + v 2 v1 - v 2
Let a, b be the speeds of the ferries.
v1 + v 2 6 720 (x - 720)
= =
v1 - v 2 4 ......... (i)
a b
2v1 10 v (x - 720) 400 720 (x - 400)
or = or 1 = 5 :1 + 10 + = + 10 + ......... (ii)
2v2 2 v2 a a b b
Required ratio = (5 + 1) : 5 = 6 : 5 (Time for ferry 1 to reach other shore + 10 minute wait + time
to cover 400m)
EXAMPLE 29. A man can row 6 km/h in still water. When
= Time for freely 2 to cover 720m to other shore + 10 minute
the river is running at 1.2 km/h, it takes him 1 hour to row to a wait + Time to cover (x 400m))
place and back. How far is the place?
Sol. Mans rate downstream = (6 + 1.2) = 7.2 km/h. a 720
Using (i), we get =
Mans rate upstream = (6 1.2) km/h = 4.8 km/h. b (x - 720)
Let the required distance be x km.
(x - 320) (x + 320) a (x - 320)
x x Using (ii), = =
Then + = 1 or 4.8x + 7.2x = 7.2 4.8 a b b (x + 320)
7.2 4.8
On, solving we get, x = 1760m
7.2 4.8
x= = 2.88km
12
EXAMPLE 33. A man rows 27km with the stream and 15km
SHORTCUT METHOD against the stream taking 4 hours each time. Find this rate per
hour in still water and the rate at which the stream flows.

Required distance =
(
1 62 (1.2) 2 ) Sol. Speed with the stream =
27 3
= 6 kmph
26 4 4
 7
15 3 EXAMPLE 37. A person goes from his village to home time in
\ Speed against the stream = = 3 kmph.
4 4 2 hours at a speed of 20 km/hr and then from his home town he
\ Speed of the man in still water goes to his nearest railway station 1 hr 30 minutes at a speed of
30 km/hr. Find the average speed of the person in whole journey.
1 3 3 1
= 6 + 3 = 5 kmph v1t1 + v2 t2
2 4 4 4 Sol. Average speed =
t1 + t 2
1 3 3
\ Speed of the stream = 6 - 3 = 1.5 kmph 3
2 4 4 20 2 + 30
= 2 = 85 2 km/hr
3 7
EXAMPLE 34. On a river, B is between A and C and is also 2+
2
equidistant from A and C. A boat goes from A to B and back in 5
hours 15 minutes and from A to C and back in 7 hours. How long 2
will it take to go from C to A if the river flows from A to C? = 24 km/hr
7
Sol. If the speed in still water is x kmph and speed of the river is EXAMPLE 38. A policemen sees a thief at a distance of 200
y kmph, speed down the river = x + y and speed up the river
m. He starts chasing the thief who is running at a speed of 10 m/
= x y.
sec and policemen is chasing the thief with a speed of 12 m/sec.
d d 1 Find the distance covered by the thief when he is caught by the
\ + =5 ............. (1)
x+y x-y 4 policeman.

2d a
=7 Sol. Required distance = d
x+ y
............. (2) b-a

2d 2d 1 10
+ = 10 = 200 m
Multiplying (1) by 2, we get
x+y x-y 2 12 - 10
= 1000 m = 1 km
2d 21 2d 39. A passenger train start at 8 : 00 a.m. from
Q x - y = 7
EXAMPLE
7+ =
x-y 2 station A and goes to station B. A supper fast train also start at 8
: 00 a.m. from station B and goes to station A. After crossing
2d 1
= 3 hours = Time taken to travel from C to A. each other, passenger train reached to station B in 16 hours and
x-y 2 super fast train reached station A in 4 hours. Find the speed of
EXAMPLE 35. Ramesh rows in still water with speed of 4.5 super fast train if speed of passenger train is 30 km/hr.
Sol. (speed of passenger train) : (speed of super fast train) =
km/h to go to a certain place and to come back. Find his average
speed for the whole journey, if the river is flowing with a speed of 4 : 16
1.5 km/h. 30 : (speed of super fast train) = 2 : 4
Sol. Here, a = 4.5 km/h, b = 1.5 km/h speed of super fast train = 60 km/hr
(a + b)(a - b) EXAMPLE 40. A man rows a boat from P to Q downstream in
Average speed =
a 3 hours and returns the same distance in 5 hours. If the stream
flows at the rate of 5 km/hr, then find the speed of the boat in still
(4.5 + 1.5) (4.5 - 1.5) 6 3 18
= = = = 4 km/h water.
4.5 4.5 4.5
Z (X +Y )
EXAMPLE 36. A person goes from Delhi to Agra at a speed of Sol. Required speed =
Y-X
60 km/h by car and return to Delhi by train at a speed of 50 km/
hr. Find the average speed during the whole journey. 5 (3 + 5)
= km/hr
2 ab 2 60 50 5-3
Sol. Average speed = = km/hr
a+b 60 + 50 = 20 km/hr

6
= 54 km/hr
11