TIME, SPEED AND DISTANCE

l Introduction
l Motion or movement
l Conversion kmph (kilometer per hour) to m/s

(meter per second) and vice-versa

l

l
l

l Direct and Inverse Proportionality Between any

two of the speed(S), Time(T) and Distance(D)

When the Third One is Constant
l Average Speed
l Relative Speed

INTRODUCTION
For a CAT aspirant, a problem on time, speed and distance means
solving complex situation with the help of many equations. Ability
to solve the problems of this chapter depends only on the depth
of your understanding of this chapter. Concepts of this chapters
are used in solving questions based on motion in a straight line,
relative motion, circular motion, train and boat etc. In CAT and
other equivalent aptitude tests, each year 2 to 4 questions are
generally asked. So this chapter is very important from the point
of view of CAT and other equivalent aptitude tests.

MOTION OR MOVEMENT
When a body changes its position with respect to any external
stationary body then it is said that the body is in motion or the
body is moving with respect to the stationary body. Thus when
a body travels from one place to another place, we say that the
body is in motion or the body is moving. To move from a point
A to another point B situated at a distance (D) from the point A
with some speed (S) by a body takes some time (T ).
Speed is defined as the rate at which distance is covered
during the motion. It is measured in terms of distance per unit
time. Unit of speed may have any combination of unit of distance
and unit of time in the numrator and denominator respectively.
For example unit of speed can be metre/sec, km/hour, metre/min.,
km/min., km/day, km/sec, feet/sec, miles/hr etc.

l
l
l
l
l

To and Fro Motion in a Straight Line Between

Two Points A and B
Uniform Acceleration and Uniform Deceleration
Application of Alligation in the Problems
Related to Time, Speed and Distance
Concept Related to Motion of Trains
Boats and Streams
Basic Terminology Related to Races
Circular Motion
Clocks

The relation between speed (S), distance (D) and time (T) is
given below :
Distance = Speed Time
or,
Speed Time = Distance i.e. S T = D
In the above relation, the unit used for measuring the distance
(D) covered during the motion and the unit of time (T ) i.e.
duration to cover the distance (D) will be the same as in numerator
and denominator respectively of the unit used for the speed.

CONVERSION OF KMPH (KILOMETER PER

HOUR) TO M/S (METRE PER SECOND) AND
VICE-VERSA
1 kmph or 1 km/h =

1 km
1000 m
5m
5
=
=
=
m/s
1 hr 60 60 sec 18 sec 18

5x
m/s and vice-versa x
18
18 x
18 x
kmph or
km/h
m/s =
5
5
5
i.e. to convert km/hr to m/sec, multiply by
and to convert
18
18
m/sec to km/hr multiply by
.
5
Illustration 1: Convert 90 km/h into m/s.
5
Solution: 90 km/h = 90
= 25 m/s.
18

x kmph =

2
Illustration 2: The driver of a Maruti car driving at the speed
of 68 km/h locates a bus 40 metres ahead of him. After 10
seconds, the bus is 60 metres behind. The speed of the bus is
(a) 30 km/h
(b) 32 km/h
(c) 25 km/h
(d) 38 km/h
Solution: (b) Let speed of Bus = SB km/h.
Now, in 10 sec., car covers the relative distance
= (60 + 40) m = 100 m
100
= 10 m/s
Relative speed of car =
10
18
= 10 = 36 km / h
5
68 SB = 36

S = 32 km/h

DIRECT AND INVERSE PROPORTIONALITY

BETWEEN ANY TWO OF THE SPEED(S),
TIME(T) AND DISTANCE(D) WHEN THE
THIRD ONE IS CONSTANT
We know that S T = D
(i) Time (T ) is directly proportional to distance (D) when
speed (S) is constant
T D, when speed (S) is constant

T = kD, where k is the constant, called constant of

proportionality
Thus when a body covers d1 and d2 distances in time
t1 and t2 respectively with constant (i.e. uniform) speed, then
t1 = kd1 and t2 = kd2
t1 kd1
=
t2 kd 2

t1 d1
=
t2 d 2

(ii) Speed (S) is directly proportional to distance (D) when

time (T ) is constant i.e.
S D, when time T is constant
S = mD, where m is the constant, called constant,
of proportionality
Thus, when a body covers d1 and d2 distances with speeds
s1 and s2 respectively in constant time (i.e. duration), then
s1 = md1 and s2 = md2
s1 md1
=

s2 md 2

s1 d1
=
s2 d 2

(iii) Speed (S) is inversly proportional to time (T) when distance

(D) is constant i.e.
1
S
, when distance (D) is constant
T
1
S = n , where n is the constant, called constant of
T
proportionality.
ST = n
Thus when a body covers a fixed distance with speeds
s1 and s2 in time t1 and t2 respectively, then
s1t1 = n and s2t2 = n
s1t1 = s2t2

Illustration 3: Two cyclists travel with a constant speed. One

cyclist travels 30 kms in 2 hrs, then in how many hours the
other cyclist travels 40 kms.
Solution: Since speed of the two cyclists is the same, hence
t1 d1
=
t2 d 2
Here
t1 = 2 hrs, d1 = 30 kms, t2 = ?, d2 = 40 kms
2 30
8
2
=
3t 2 = 8 t 2 = = 2 hrs
t 2 40
3
3
2
hrs.
3
Illustration 4: A car travels from Delhi to Jaipur at a speed
of 50 km/hr and another car travels from Delhi to Ludhiana
at a speed 60 km/hr. If the time taken by both the cars is the
same and the distance of Jaipur from Delhi is 270 kms, then
find the distance of Ludhiana from Delhi.
Solution: Since the time taken by both the cars is the same,
therefore
s1 d1
=
s2 d 2
Here
s1 = 50, d1 = 270, s2 = 60, d2 = ?
Hence required time = 2

50 270
=
60 d 2

5d2 = 270 6

270 6
= 324 kms.
5
Hence distance of Ludhiana from Delhi = 324 kms.
Illustration 5:A cyclist goes to the post-office from his
village at 12 km/h and reaches the post-office 15 minutes
before 10 a.m. When he goes to the post-office from his village at
10 km/h, reaches the post-office 30 minutes after 10 a.m. Find
the distance of the post-office from the village of the cyclist.
Solution: Since the distance of the post-office from the village
of the cyclist is constant. Therefore
s1t1 = s2t2
15 30
3
+
= t1 +
Here
s1 = 12 km/h, t2 = t1 +
60 60
4
s2 = 10 km/h, t1 = ?

d2 =

12 t1 = 10 t1 +
4

4t + 3
6 t1 = 5 1

15
hrs
4
Distance = Speed Time
15
= 12
= 45 kms
4
Hence distance of the district centre = 45 kms.
Illustration 6: A man travels 120 km by ship, 450 km by rail
and 60 km by horse taking altogether 13 hrs 30 min. The speed
of the train is 3 times that of the horse and 1 times that of
the ship. Find the speed of the train.

4 t1 = 15 t1 =

3
Solution: If the speed of the horse is x km/hr, that of the train is
3x
3x and that of the ship is 1 = 2x km/hr
1 2
120 450 60 27
+
+
=
2x
3x
x
2
270 27
60 150 60 27
+
+
=
=

,
x
2
x
x
x
2
x = 20 Speed of the train = 60 km/hr.

AVERAGE SPEED
Average speed is defined as the ratio of total distance covered to
the total time taken by an object i.e.
Total distance travelled
Average speed =
Total time taken
If an object travels d1, d2, d3, ..., dn distances with different
speeds s1, s2, s3, ..., sn in time t1, t2, t3, ..., tn respectively; then
average speed (Sa) is given by
Sa =

d1 + d 2 + d3 + ... + d n
t1 + t2 + t3 + ... + tn

... (1)

Since, Distance = Speed Time

d1 = s1t1, d2 = s2t2, d3 = s3t3, ..., dn = sntn
Hence from (1),
Sa =
Since

Time =

s1t1 + s2t2 + s3t3 + ... + sntn

t1 + t2 + t3 + ... + tn
Distance
Speed

d3
d1
d2
d
, t2 =
, t3
, ..., t n = n
t1 = =
s1
s2
s3
sn
Hence from (1),

Sa =

d1 + d 2 + d3 + ... + d n
d
d1 d 2 d3
+
+
+ ... + n
s1 s2 s3
sn

Special Cases
In chapter of Averages, we studied that
(i) If with two different speeds s1 and s2 the same distance d
is covered, then
2s s
Average Speed = 1 2
s1 + s2
(ii) If with three different speeds s1, s2 and s3 the same distance
d is covered, then
3s1 s2 s3
Average Speed =
.
s1 s2 + s2 s3 + s3 s1
Illustration 7: A car moves 300 km at a speed of 45 km/h and
then it increases its speed to 60 km/h to travel another 500 km.
Find average speed of car.
Solution:
d + d2
300 + 500 800 160
=
=
=
Average speed = 1
d1 d 2 300 500
45
3
+
+
45
60
3
s1 s2

1
km/h
3
Illustration 8: A person goes to his office at 1/3rd of the speed
at which he returns from his office. Average speed during the
whole trip (i.e. one round) is 12 km/h. What is the speed of
the person while he was going to his office ?
Solution:Let
s2 = 3k, then s1 = k
2 s1 s2
Average speed =
s1 + s2
2 k 3k 3k
=

12 =
k + 3k
2

k=8
Hence required speed = 8 km/h.
Illustration 9: A covers 1/3rd of the journey at the speed of 10
km/h and half of the rest at the speed of 20 km/h and rest at
the speed of 30 km/h. What is the average speed of A ?
Solution:
Distance covered at 10 km/h = 1/3rd of the whole journey

1 1 1
Distance covered at 20 km/h = 1 = rd of the
3 2 3

whole journey
1 1 1

Distance covered at 30 km/h = 1 = rd of the whole

3 3 3
journey
Since the distances covered with each of the three given speeds
are the same, therefore
3s1 s2 s3
Average speed =
s1 s2 + s2 s3 + s3 s1
= 53

3 10 20 30
10 20 + 20 30 + 30 10

4
km/h.
11
Illustration 10:A man makes his upward journey at 16
km/h and downward journey at 28 km/h. What is his average speed ?
(a) 32 km/h
(b) 56 km/h
(c) 20.36 km/h
(d) 22 km/h
Solution: (c) Let the distance travelled during both upward and
down-ward journey be x km.
Total distance covered
Average speed =
Total time taken
x+x
2
=
=
x
x
28 + 16
+
16 28 28 16
2 28 16
= 20.36 km / h
=
44
= 16

Illustration 11: On a journey across Bombay, a tourist bus

averages 10 km/h for 20% of the distance, 30 km/h for 60%
of it and 20 km/h for the remainder. The average speed for
the whole journey was
(a) 10 km/h
(c) 5 km/h

(b) 30 km/h
(d) 20 km/h

4
Solution: (d) Let the average speed be x km/h. and total distance
= y km. then,
0.2
0.6
0.2
y
y+
y+
y=
10
30
20
x
1
= 20 km / h
x=
0.05

RELATIVE SPEED
Generally, when we talk about the speed of a body, we mean
the speed of the body with respect to a stationary point (or
object), which we have already discussed. In many cases,
we need to determine the speed of a body with respect to an
independent moving point (or body). In such cases, we have to take into
account the speed of the independent body with respect to which
we want to find the speed of another body.
The speed of a body 'A' with respect to an independent
moving body 'B' is called relative speed of the body A with respect
to the body 'B'.

Formulae of Relative Speed

(i) If two bodies are moving in opposite directions at speeds
s1 and s2 respectively, then relative speed of any one body
with respect to other body is (s1 + s2).
(ii) If two bodies are moving in the same direction at speeds
s1 and s2 respectively, then relative speed of any one body
with respect to other body is given by
s1 s2, when s1 is greater than s2
and s2 s1 when s2 is greater than s1.

Illustration 12: A car X starts from Delhi and another car Y

starts from Moradabad at the same time to meet each other.
Speed of car X is 40 km/h while speed of car Y is 50 km/h. If
the distance between Delhi and Moradabad is 210 kms, when
will they meet ?
Solution: Effective speed = Relative speed = 40 + 50
= 90 km/h
210
1
= 2 hrs.
Time taken =
90
3
Illustration 13: A car X starts running from a place at a uniform
speed of 40 km/h in a particular direction. After one and half
hour, another car Y starts running in the same direction from the
same place at a uniform speed and overtakes car X after 1 hour
36 minutes. Find the speed of car Y.
Solution: Distance covered by X in one and half hours
3
= 40 km = 60 kms.
2
To overtake the car X by car Y, the distance of 60 kms will be
covered by car Y with relative speed of (Sy 40) km/h in 1 hour
36 minutes, where Sy is the speed of car Y.
36
3

Now 1 hour 36 minutes = 1 + hrs = hrs

60
5
Now

Speed Time = Distance

(Sy 40)

8
= 60
5

Sy = 77.5
Hence, required speed = 77.5 km/h.
Illustration 14: Two men A and B start from a place P walking
at 3 km and 3 kmph respectively. How many km apart will
they be at the end of 2 hours?
(i) If they walk in opposite directions ?
(ii) If they walk in the same direction ?
(iii) What time will they take to be 16 km apart if.
(a) they walk in opposite directions?
(b) in the same direction ?
Solution:
(i) When they walk in opposite directions, they will be
1
1

3 + 3 = 6 km apart in 1 hour.
2
2

1
1 5
1
hours they will be 6 = 16 km apart.
2 2
4
2
(ii) If they walk in the same direction, they will be
1
1
3 3 = km apart in 1 hour.
2
2
1
1 5
1
ln 2 hours they will be = 1 km apart.
2
2 2
4
(iii) Time to be 16 km apart while walking in opposite direc16
6
=2
tions =
hours.
1
13
3+3
2
But if they walk in the same direction, time
16
= 32 hours
=
1
3 3
3
ln 2

TO AND FRO MOTION IN A STRAIGHT

LINE BETWEEN TWO POINTS A AND B
Two and fro motion in a straight line between two points A and B
means motion of one or more bodies between two fixed points A
and B such that when any body reached at any end point A or B,
they start moving towards the opposite end point.

1. When two bodies start moving towards

each other from two points A and B
(a) If distance between A and B is D, then the two
bodies together have to cover D unit of distance for the
first meeting.

(b) For the next number of meeting (i.e. second, third,

fourth meeting and so on) both A and B together have to
cover 2D distance more from the previous meeting.
D

Hence to meet the fifth time they have to cover together

D + (4 2D) = 9D unit of distances. Similarly for the

5
ninth meeting they have to cover together D + (8 2D)
= 17D units of distance. Thus, for the nth meeting they
have to cover together D + (n 1) 2D i.e. (2n 1) D
units of distance.
(c) At any point of time ratio of the distances covered by
the two bodies will be equal to the ratio of their speeds.

2. When two bodies start moving towards the

same direction from the point A
(a) Since the faster body reaches the next end (or opposite
end) first than the slower body and the faster body starts
returning before the slower body reaches the same opposite
end and hence the two bodies meet somewhere between
the two ends. For the first meeting after they start to move
they have to cover 2D distance, where D is the distance
between two particular end points (i.e. A and B)
D

(b) For every subsequent meeting they have to cover

together 2D unit distance more from the previous meeting.
D

Thus, for the nth meeting they have to cover together

(n 2D) units of distance.
(c) At any point of time ratio of the distances covered by
the two bodies will be equal to the ratio of their speeds.
Illustration 15: Two runners Shiva and Abhishek start
running to and fro between opposite ends A and B of a straight
road towards each other from A and B respectively. They meet
first time at a point 0.75D from A, where D is the distance
between A and B. Find the point of their 6th meeting.
Solution: At the time when Shiva and Abhishek meet first time,
Ratio of their speeds = Ratio of distance covered by them
= 0.75 : 0.25
=3:1
Total distance covered by Shiva and Abhishek together till they
meet at 6th time = D + 5 2D = 11D
Total distance covered by Shiva till he meets Abhishek 6th
3
11D = 8.25D
time =
3 +1
After covering a distance of 8.25D, Shiva will be at a point at
a distance of 0.25D from A or 0.75D from B.

UNIFORM ACCELERATION AND UNIFORM

DECELERATION
Acceleration is the rate of increase of speed. If acceleration
is constant (i.e. uniform), then acceleration is called uniform
acceleration. Deceleration is the rate of decrease of speed.
Deceleration is also called negative acceleration. If deceleration

is constant (i.e. uniform), then deceleration is called uniform

deceleration.
For example, if speed of a car increases 2 km/h in each successive hour then the car has an uniform acceleration of 2 km/h2. If
speed of the car decreases 5 km/h in each successive hour then
the car has a uniform deceleration of 5 km/h2.
Unit of acceleration and deceleration are km/h2, m/sec2, etc.
i.e. the unit of acceleration is the ratio of unit of distance and
square of the unit of time.
If a car is moving with the speed of 50 km/h having an acceleration 3 km/h2, then its speed after 4 hours will be
50 + 3 4 = 62 km/h
Here the speed 50 km/h is called initial speed and the speed
62 km/h is called final speed of the car. Thus
Final Speed = Initial Speed + Acceleration Time
Also Final Speed = Initial Speed Deceleration Time
If on applying the brakes, a car running with a speed of 40
km/h stopped in 5 minutes, then the deceleration produced due
to the brakes will be found out as
Final Speed = Initial Speed Deceleration Time
5

0 = 40 Deceleration
60
Deceleration = 480 km/h2
Note that after applying the brakes, the car is finally stopped,
hence we have taken the found speed of the car = 0

AN APPLICATION OF ALLIGATION IN THE

PROBLEMS RELATED TO TIME, SPEED AND
DISTANCE
Suppose a cyclist goes from P to Q at an average speed of S1 and
then comes back from Q to P at an average speed of S2. You have
already studied the shortcut formula for the average speed of the
whole journey when the distances covered by two different speeds
are the same as given below :
2 S1S2
Average speed for the whole journey =
S1 + S2
However, we can find the average speed of the whole journey
even if the distance travelled by two different speeds is unequal
very easily by using the process of alligation which you have
studied in the chapter of Alligation.
(i) To understand the process of alligation to find the
average speed of the whole journey when distance travelled by two
different speeds is equal. Suppose a bus travels from Delhi to
Agra at a speed of 50 km/h and from Agra to Delhi at 75 km/h.
Here the distance travel with different speeds is equal,
therefore average speed for the whole journey will be the weighted
average of the two speeds (weighted on the basis of the time taken
to travelled at each speed).
The speed ratio is 2 : 3. The value of the time ratio used for
calculating the weighted average is the inverse ratio of the ratio
of speeds. Hence ratio of times is 3 : 2.

6
50

(i) When the train is crossing a moving object, the speed of the
train has to be taken as the relative speed with respect to the object.
A object B

75

Aw
Aw
3

75 Aw 3
=
Aw 50 2

:
:

50
2

Aw = 60

Hence average speed of the whole journey is 60 km/h.

(ii) To understand the process of alligation to find the
average speed of the whole journey when distances travelled by two
different speeds are unequal. Suppose a bus travels from a city
A to city B at a speed 30 km/h and city B to city C at a speed of
40 km/h. If distance between city A and B be 60 km and between
B and C be 120 km.
Here the ratio of the speeds is 3 : 4.
Inverse of the ratio of speeds is 4 : 3.
Since distances coveres with different speeds are not equal but
they are in the ratio 1 : 2. Therefore we cannot take 4 : 3 as ratio of
times but the product of 4 : 3 and 1 : 2 will be the ratio of times i.e.
Ratio of times = (Inverse of the ratio of speeds)
(Ratio of distances)
= (4 : 3) (1 : 2)
=41:32=4:6=2:3

CONCEPT RELATED TO MOTION OF TRAINS

The following things need to be kept in mind before solving
questions on trains.
S.
No.

Situations

Q
The train just
start crossing
the object

Train
S
The train has
just crossed
the object

Time taken Distance

Relative speed of the train by the train travelled
with respect to the object to cross the = by the

object
train

For object moving in opposite direction of the train,

Relative speed of the train Speed of Speed of

with respect to the object = the train + the object

And for object moving in the same direction of the train,

Relative speed of the train Speed of Speed of
with respect to the object = the train the object

(Distance travelled by the train when crossing the object)

= Distance travelled by the engine from Q to S
= QR + RS
= AB + RS
= Length of the object + Length of the train
In the case of a train crossing a man, tree or a pole, the length
of the man, tree or pole is actually its diameter (or width) which
is generally considered as negligible i.e. a man, a tree, a pole or
a point etc. has no length.
The various situations of motion of the train in which the
questions are asked in CAT and all other aptitude examinations
and formulae used in various situations are given in the following
table:

Basic

Expended Form of

Expended Formulae

Formulae

Basic Formulae

in Symbolic Form

1.

When a train
Relative Speed Time
crossing a moving
= Distance
object with length
in opposite direction

(ST + S0) t =
Speed Speed Time taken by
Length Length
of the + of the the train to cross = of the + of the (LT + L0)

train object the moving object train object

2.

When a train
Relative Speed Time
crossing a moving
= Distance
object with length
in the same direction

Speed Speed Time taken by Length Length (ST S0) t

of the of the the train to cross = of the + of the = (LT + L0)

train object the moving object train object

3.

When a train
Relative Speed Time
crossing a moving
= Distance
object without length
like a man, a tree,
a pole, a point etc.
in opposite direction

4.

When a train
Relative Speed Time
crossing a moving
= Distance
object without length
in the same direction

5.

When a train
Speed Time
crossing a stationary = Distance
object with length

Speed Speed Time taken by

Length
of the + of the the train to cross = of the

train object the moving object train

Speed Speed Time taken by

Length
of the of the the train to cross = of the

train object the moving object train

Length Length
Speed
of the Time taken to cross = of the + of the

the stationary object

train object
train

(ST + S0) t = LT

(St S0) t = LT

ST t = LT + L0

7
S.
No.
6.

Situations

Basic

Expended Form of

Expended Formulae

Formulae

Basic Formulae

in Symbolic Form

When a train
Speed Time
crossing a stationary = Distance
object without length

Speed
Length
of the Time taken to cross = of the

the stationary object

train
train

ST t = LT

ST = Speed of the train, S0 = Speed of the object, LT = Length of the train, L0 = Length of the object, t = time taken by the train to cross the object

Distance = 110 m
Therefore, time taken in passing the men
110 18
= 6s
=
66 5

Illustration 16: A train passes an electric pole in 10 seconds

and a platform 120 m long in 18 seconds. Find the length of
the train.
Solution: Let the length of the train be = x m
x 120 + x
=
x = 150
10
18
Hence length of the train = 150 m.
Speed =

Illustration 17:A train of length 100 m takes 1/6 hour to

pass over another train 150 m long coming from the opposite
direction. If the speed of first train is 60 km/h, then find speed
of the second train.
Solution: Let speed of the second train be x km/h.
Relative Speed = Sum of speed of two trains
5
= (60 + x) km/h = (60 + x)
m/s
18
Time =

10 =

Sum of length of two trains

Relative Speed
250 18
(60 + x) 5

x = 30 km/h.

Illustration 18: Two trains 137 metres and 163 metres in

length are running towards each other on parallel lines, one
at the rate of 42 kmph and another at 48 kmph. In what time
will they be clear of each other from the moment they meet?
(a) 10 sec
(b) 12 sec
(c) 14 sec
(d) cannot be determined
Solution: (b) Relative speed of the trains
= (42 + 48) kmph = 90 kmph
5

= 90 m/sec = 25 m/sec.
18

Time taken by the trains to pass each other

= Time taken to cover (137 + 163) m at 25 m/sec
300
=
sec = 12 seconds.
25
Illustration 19: A train 110 m in length travels at 60 km/h.
How much time does the train take in passing a man walking
at 6 km/h against the train?
(a) 6 s
(b) 12 s
(c) 10 s
(d) 18 s
Solution: (a) Relative speeds of the train and the man
66 5
m/s
= (60 + 6) = 66 km/h =
18

BOATS AND STREAMS

In still water, a boat moves with its own speed which is called
speed of the boat in still water (SB).
When the boat is moving against the flow of the water or with
the flow of the water, the speed of movement of the boat depends
on the speed of flow of water [i.e. speed of stream (SS)].
Speed of the boat moving against the flow of water (i.e.
moving in upstream)
= Speed of boat in still water Speed of stream
= SB SS
Speed of the boat moving with flow of water (i.e. moving in
downstream)
= Speed of boat in still water + Speed of stream
= SB + SS
The basic formula used for solving the problems of boats and
streams is
Speed Time = Distance

Illustration 20:A man can row a boat in downstream at

12 km/h and in upstream at 8 km/h. Find the speed of the boat
that the man can row in still water.
Solution:
SB + SS = 12
... (1)
SB SS = 8

... (2)

On adding (1) and (2), we get

2 SB = 20 SB = 10

Hence speed of boat in still water = 10 km/h.

Illustration 21: A boat covers 48 km in upstream and 72 km
in downstream in 12 hours, while it covers 72 km in upstream
and 48 km in downstream in 13 hours. Find the speed of the
stream.
48
72
+
Solution:
= 12
SB SS SB + SS
72
48
+
= 13
SB SS SB + SS
Let

1
1
= x and
=y
SB SS
SB + SS

8
Then
48x + 72y = 12
and
72x + 48y = 13
On adding (1) and (2),
5
120x + 120y = 25 x + y =
24
On subtracting (2) from (1),
1
24y 24x = 1 x y =
24
On adding (3) and (4),

... (1)
... (2)
... (3)
,,, (4)

1
1
x=
SB SS = 8
... (5)
4
8
On subtracting (4) from (3),
1
1
y=
2y =
SB + SS = 12
... (6)
6
12
Subtracting (5) from (6),
2 SS = 4 SS = 2
Hence speed of stream = 2 km /h.
Illustration 22: A motor boat takes 12 hours to go downstream
and it takes 24 hours to return the same distance. Find the
ratio of the speed of boat in still water to the speed of stream.
Solution:
Distance = Speed Time
Distance travelled in downstream
= Distance travelled in upstream
(SB + SS) 12 = (SB SS) 24

SB + SS = 2 SB 2 SS
2x =

3 SS = SB

Hence required ratio = 3 : 1.

SB 3
=
SB : SS = 3 : 1
SS 1

Illustration 23: P, Q, and R are the three towns on the bank

of a river which flows uniformly. Q is equidistant from P and
R. I row from P to Q and back in 10 hours and I can row from
P to R in 4 hours. Compare the speed of my boat in still water
with that of the river.
(a) 4 : 3
(b) 5 : 3
(c) 6 : 5
(d) 7 : 3
Solution: (c) Let the speed of the boat be v1 and the speed of the
current be v2 and d be the distance between the cities.
d
d
= 4 and
=6
v1 + v2
v1 v2
v1 + v2 6
=
v1 v2 4
2v1 10
v
=
or 1 = 5 : 1
2v2 2
v2

Now,

or

Required ratio = (5 + 1) : 5 = 6 : 5
Illustration 24: Vikas can row a certain distance downstream
in 6 hours and return the same distance in 9 hours. If the
stream flows at the rate of 3 km/h, find the speed of Vikas in
still water.
Solution:
By the formula,
3 (9 + 6)
Vikass speed in still water =
15 km/h
96

BASIC TERMINOLOGY RELATED TO RACES

1. Startup or Head Start
When a runner allows to another runner to stay ahead in the same
race, then it is said that there is a startup in the race.
For example if A allows B to go ahead before starting the race,
then it is said that A gives startup to B and B has the startup. If
before starting the race B goes ahead of x metre, then we can say A
gives x metre startup to B or B has startup (or headstart) of x metre.

2. Dead Heat
When the runners reach the finishing line (or the final post) then
it is said that these runners finish (or end) the race in dead heat.
Some Useful Concepts
(i) When it is said that A can give B a startup x metre in y
metre race, then it means in y metre race B runs x metre
less than A in the same time.
(ii) When A beats B by t second in a race of y metre then
it means B is the loser and A is the winner and when A
reaches the finishing line, B is still some distance back to
A, from which B takes t seconds to cover the remaining
distance. Hence we can calculate the speed of loser B.
(iii) The ratio of speed of the runners is always maintained
throughout the race.
Illustration 25: In 2 km race A gives a startup of 300 m to
B. Despite this, A wins the race by 400 m. Find the ratio of
speed of A and B.
Solution: A and B covers 2000 m and 1300 m respectively in
same time intervals.
Since time period for both runners A and B are the same, hence
ratio of speeds of A and B = 2000 : 1300 = 20 : 13
Illustration 26: In a 2 km race A wins over B by 200 m or 20
seconds. B can give a startup 500 m to C in 2 km race. Find
out by how much time A will win over C?
Solution:
Ratio of speeds of A and B = 2000 : 1800 = 10 : 9
Ratio of speeds of B and C = 2000 : 1500 = 4 : 3
Ratio of speeds of A, B and C = 2000 : 1800 : 1350
200
= 10 m/s
Speed of B =
20
Speed of C = 7.5 m/s [ Ratio of speed of B to C = 4 :3]
Now C has to cover 650 m in extra time. Therefore, the time
650
taken by C to cover the remaining distance =
= 86.7 seconds.
7.5
Hence, required time = 1 minute 27 second (approx)

CIRCULAR MOTION
When two bodies start moving from a place on a circular track
simultaneously in the same direction, the faster body keeps increasing the distance by which the slower body is behind the faster
body. When the distance by which the faster body is in front of
the slower body becomes equal to the circumference of the track,
the faster body meets the slower body first time i.e. faster body
comes in line with the slower body.

9
(i) When two bodies are moving in the opposite directions, their
relative speed is equal to the sum of their individual speeds.
(ii) When two bodies are moving in the same direction, their
relative speed is equal to the difference of the speeds of
the two bodies.

First Meeting
(i) Let A and B are two runners.
Time taken by A and B to meet for the first time
Circumference of the circular Track
=
Relative speed
(ii) When there are more than two runners, suppose A is the
fastest runner and A meets B first time in time tAB, A meets
C first time in time tAC, A meets D first time in time tAD
and so on. Then time taken by all of them to meet for the
first time is the LCM of tAB, tAC, tAD , etc.
First Meeting at the Starting Point
Let A take, tA time, B takes tB time, C takes tC times and so on, to
complete one round, then the time taken to meet all the runners
for the first time at the starting point
= LCM of tA, tB, tC etc.
Illustration 27: The jogging track in a sports complex is 726
metres in circumference. Pradeep and his wife start from the
same point and walk in opposite directions at 4.5 km/h and
3.75 km/h, respectively. They will meet for the first time in
(a) 5.5 min
(b) 6.0 min
(c) 5.28 min
(d) 4.9 min
Solution: (c) Let the husband and the wife meet after x minutes
4500 metres are covered by Pradeep in 60 minutes.
4500
x metres.
In x minutes, he will cover
60
Similarly,
3750
x m.
In x minutes, his wife will cover
60
4500
3750
x+
x = 726
Now,
60
60
726 60
x=
= 5.28 min

8250
Illustration 28: A, B and C start running on a circular track
simultaneously from the same place of the circular track at
the speed of 30 m/s, 60 m/s and 40 m/s respectively in the same
direction. The circumference of the track is 1200 m.
(i) When will they be together again for the first time ?
(ii) When will they be together again for the first time at the
starting point?
Solution:
(i) Speed of B is more than speed of A and C.
Relative speed of B with respect to A = 60 30 = 30 m/s
Relative speed of B with respect to C = 60 40 = 20 m/s
1200
B meets A after every
= 40 seconds
30
1200
B meets C after every
= 60 seconds
20

LCM of 40 and 60 = 120 seconds

Hence A, B and C will meet first time after 120 seconds
i.e. 2 minutes.
(ii) Time taken by A to complete one round on the track
1200
= 40 seconds
=
30
Time taken by B to complete one round on the track
1200
= 20 seconds
60
Time taken by C to complete one round on the track
=

1200
= 30 seconds
40
LCM of 40, 20 and 30 = 120
Hence A, B and C will meet first time at the starting point after
120 seconds i.e. 2 minutes.
=

Illustration 29: A and B run on a circular track of circumference 800 m in the opposite direction. Speeds of A and B
are 50 m/s and 30 m/s respectively. Initially A and B are diametrically opposite to each other.
(i) When will they meet for the first time ?
(ii) What is the ratio of distances covered by each one to
meet for the first time ?
Solution:
(i) Relative speed of A with respect to B = 50 + 30 = 80 m/s
Initially A and B are diametrically opposite to each other
means B is 400 m ahead of A in the race.
400
Time taken by A to meet B first time =
= 5s
80
(ii) To meet second time A and B have to cover 800 m
First
meeting point

Second
meeting point

Hence time taken to meet second time =

800
= 10 seconds
80

CLOCKS
Problems on clocks are based on the movement of the minute
hand and hour hand. We consider the dial of a clock as a circular
track having a circumference of 60 km. minute hand and hour
hand are two runners running with the speed of 60 km/h and
5 km/hr respectively in the same direction. Hence relative speed
of minute hand with respect to hour hand is 55 km/h. This means
that for every hour elapsed, the minute hand goes 55 km more
than the hour hand.

10

Degree Concept of a Clock

Total angle subtended at the centre of
a clock = 360
Angle made by hour hand at the
centre = 30 per hour
= 0.5 per minute
Angle made by minute hand at the
centre = 360 per hour
= 6 per minute

12

Number of Right Angles and Straight Angles

Formed by Minute Hand and Hour Hand
A right angle is formed by hour hand and minute hand when
distance between tip of hour hand and tip of minute hand is
15 km. A straight line is formed by hour hand and minute hand
when distance between their tips is 30 km.
A clock makes two right angles in every hour. Thus there are 2
right angles between marked 1 to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4 and so on the dial.
Two straight lines are formed by hour hand and minute hand
in every hour.
Thus two straight lines are formed by hour hand and minute
hand between marked 1 to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4 and so on.
(iii) Hour hand and minute hand of a clock are together after
5
every 65
minutes. So, if hour hand and minute hand of a clock
11
5
are meeting in less than 65
minutes, then the clock is running
11
fast and if hour hand and minute hand are meeting in more than
5
65
minutes,then clock is running slow.
11

Illustration 30: Between 5 O' clock and 6 O' clock, when hour
hand and minute hand of a clock overlap each other ?
Solution: At 5 O' clock, distance between tips of two hands
= 25 km
Relative speed = 55 km/h
Required time to overlap the two hands
25 km
5
= h
=
55 km / h 11
5 60
min
11
3 60
= 27 min +
sec
11
= 27 min + 16 sec.
= 27 minutes 16 seconds.
Illustration 31: Mrs. Veena Gupta goes for marketing between
5 P.M. and 6 P.M. When she comes back, she finds that the hour
hand and the minute hand have interchanged their positions.
For how much time was she out of her house ?
Solution: Since two hands are interchange their positions, so sum
of the angles subtended at the centre by hour hand and minute
hand = 360
Let us suppose that she was out of house
for 't ' minutes.
So, the sum of the angles subtended at the
centre by the hour hand and minute hand =
(0.5 t) + (6t)

0.5t + 6t = 360

6.5t = 360 t = 55.4 (app.)

Hence required time = 55.4 minutes.
=