TIME & DISTANCE

 

In this module we will deal with basic concepts of time and distance, speed, average speed, conversion from km/h to m/s and vice versa. This chapter will form the basis of further concept of relative speed which is used in train and boat problems.

Important Formulas

  1. Speed=Distance/Time
  2. Distance=Speed×Time
  3. Time=Distance/Speed
  4. To convert Kilometers per Hour(km/hr) to Meters per Second(m/s)
    x km/hr=(x×5)/18m/s
  5. To convert Meters per Second(m/s) to Kilometers per Hour(km/hr)
    x m/s=(x×18)/5 km/hr
  6. If a car covers a certain distance at x kmph and an equal distance at y kmph, the average speed of the whole journey = 2xy/(x+y) kmph
  7. Speed and time are inversely proportional (when distance is constant) ⇒Speed ∝1/Time (when distance is constant)
  8. If the ratio of the speeds of A and B is a : b, then the ratio of the times taken by them to cover the same distance is 1/a:1/b or b : a

Solved Examples

Level 1

1.A person crosses a 600 m long street in 5 minutes. What is his speed in km per hour?
A. 8.2B. 4.2
C. 6.1D. 7.2

 

Answer : Option D

Explanation :

Distance = 600 meter

time = 5 minutes = 5 x 60 seconds = 300 seconds

Speed = distance/time=600/300=2m/s=(2×18)/5 km/hr=36/5 km/hr=7.2 km/hr

2.Two boys starts from the same place walking at the rate of 5 kmph and 5.5 kmph respectively in the same direction. What time will they take to be 8.5 km apart?
A. 17 hrB. 14 hr
C. 12 hrD. 19 hr

 

Answer : Option A

Explanation :

Relative speed = 5.5 – 5 = .5 kmph (because they walk in the same direction)

distance = 8.5 km

Time = distance/speed=8.5/.5=17 hr.

3.Walking 6/7th of his usual speed, a man is 12 minutes too late. What is the usual time taken by him to cover that distance?
A. 1 hr 42 minB. 1 hr
C. 2 hrD. 1 hr 12 min

 

Answer : Option D

Explanation :

New speed = 6/7 of usual speed
Speed and time are inversely proportional.
Hence new time = 7/6 of usual time
Hence, 7/6 of usual time – usual time = 12 minutes
=>1/6 of usual time = 12 minutes => usual time = 12 x 6 = 72 minutes = 1 hour 12 minutes

 4.A man goes to his office from his house at a speed of 3 km/hr and returns at a speed of 2 km/hr. If he takes 5 hours in going and coming, what is the distance between his house and office?
A. 3 kmB. 4 km
C. 5 kmD. 6 km

 

Answer : Option D

Explanation :

If a car covers a certain distance at x kmph and an equal distance at y kmph,the average speed of the whole journey = 2xy/(x+y) kmph

Hence, average speed = (2×3×2)/(2+3)=12/5 km/hr .

Total time taken = 5 hours

⇒Distance travelled=(12/5)×5=12 km

⇒Distance between his house and office =12/2=6 km

5.If a person walks at 14 km/hr instead of 10 km/hr, he would have walked 20 km more. What is the actual distance travelled by him?
A. 80 kmB. 70 km
C. 60 kmD. 50 km

 

Answer : Option D

Explanation :

Assume that the person would have covered x km if travelled at 10 km/hr

⇒Speed = Distance/Time=x/10….. (Equation1)

Give that the person would have covered (x + 20) km if travelled at 14 km/hr
⇒Speed = Distance/Time=(x+20)/14….. (Equation2)

From Equations 1 and 2,
X/10=(x+20)/14⇒14x=10x+200⇒4x=200⇒x=200/4=50

6.A car travels at an average of 50 miles per hour for 212 hours and then travels at a speed of 70 miles per hour for 112 hours. How far did the car travel in the entire 4 hours?
A. 210 milesB. 230 miles
C. 250 milesD. 260 miles

 

Answer : Option B

Explanation :

Speed1 = 50 miles/hour

Time1 = 2*(1/2) hour=5/2 hour

⇒Distance1 = Speed1 × Time1 = (50×5)/2=25×5=125 miles

⇒Speed2 = 70 miles/hour

Time2 = 1*1/2 hour=3/2 hour

Distance2 = Speed2 × Time2 = 70×3/2=35×3=105 miles

Total Distance = Distance1 + Distance2 =125+105=230 miles

7.Sound is said to travel in air at about 1100 feet per second. A man hears the axe striking the tree, 11/5 seconds after he sees it strike the tree. How far is the man from the wood chopper?
A. 1800 ftB. 2810 ft
C. 3020 ftD. 2420 ft

 

Answer : Option D

Explanation :

Speed of the sound = 1100 ft/s ⇒Time = 11/5 second

Distance = Speed × Time = 1100 ×11/5=220×11=2420 ft

8.A man walking at the rate of 5 km/hr crosses a bridge in 15 minutes. What is the length of the bridge (in meters)?
A. 1250B. 1280
C. 1320D. 1340

 

Answer : Option A

Explanation :

Speed = 5 km/hr

Time = 15 minutes = 1/4 hour

Length of the bridge = Distance Travelled by the man

= Speed × Time = 5×1/4 km

=5×1/4×1000 metre=1250 metre

Level 2

1.A man takes 5 hours 45 min in walking to a certain place and riding back. He would have gained 2 hours by riding both ways. The time he would take to walk both ways is
A. 11 hrsB. 8 hrs 45 min
C. 7 hrs 45 minD. 9 hts 20 min

 

Answer : Option C

Explanation :

Given that time taken for riding both ways will be 2 hours lesser than the time needed for waking one way and riding back
From this, we can understand that time needed for riding one way = time needed for waking one way – 2 hours
Given that time taken in walking one way and riding back = 5 hours 45 min
Hence The time he would take to walk both ways = 5 hours 45 min + 2 hours = 7 hours 45 min
In fact, you can do all these calculations mentally and save a lot of time which will be a real benefit for you.
2.A man complete a journey in 10 hours. He travels first half of the journey at the rate of 21 km/hr and second half at the rate of 24 km/hr. Find the total journey in km.
A. 121 kmB. 242 km
C. 224 kmD. 112 km

 

Answer : Option C

Explanation :

distance = speed x time
Let time taken to travel the first half = x hr
then time taken to travel the second half = (10 – x) hr
Distance covered in  the first half = 21x
Distance covered in  the second half = 24(10 – x)
But distance covered in  the first half = Distance covered in the second half
=> 21x = 24(10 – x) => 21x = 240 – 24x => 45x = 240 => 9x = 48 => 3x = 16⇒x=16/3

Hence Distance covered in the first half = 21x=21×16/3=7×16=112 km. Total distance = 2×112=224 km

3.A car traveling with 5/7 of its actual speed covers 42 km in 1 hr 40 min 48 sec. What is the actual speed of the car?
A. 30 km/hrB. 35 km/hr
C. 25 km/hrD. 40 km/hr

 

Answer : Option B

Explanation :

Time = 1 hr 40 min 48 sec = 1hr +40/60hr+48/3600hr=1+2/3+1/75=126/75hr

Distance = 42 kmSpeed=distance/time=42(126/75) =42×75/126

⇒5/7 of the actual speed = 42×75/126

⇒actual speed = 42×75/126×7/5=42×15/18=7×15/3=7×5=35 km/hr

4.A man covered a certain distance at some speed. If he had moved 3 kmph faster, he would have taken 40 minutes less. If he had moved 2 kmph slower, he would have taken 40 minutes more. What is the the distance in km?
A. 36B. 38
C. 40D. 42

 

Answer : Option C

Explanation :

Let the distance be x km , the speed in which he moved = v kmph

Time taken when moving at normal speed – time taken when moving 3 kmph faster = 40 minutes

⇒x/v−x/(v+3)=40/60⇒x[1/v−1/(v+3)]=2/3⇒x[(v+3−v)/v(v+3)]=2/3

⇒2v(v+3)=9x…………….(Equation1)

Time taken when moving 2 kmph slower – Time taken when moving at normal speed = 40 minutes
⇒x/(v−2)−x/v=40/60⇒x[1/(v−2)−1/v]=2/3

⇒x[(v−v+2)/v(v−2)]=2/3⇒x[2/v(v−2)]=2/3

⇒x[1/v(v−2)]=1/3⇒v(v−2)=3x…………….(Equation2)

Equation1/Equation2

⇒2(v+3)/(v−2)=3⇒2v+6=3v−6⇒v=12

Substituting this value of v inEquation1⇒2×12×15=9x

=>x= (2×12×15)/9= (2×4×15)/3=2×4×5=40. Hence distance = 40 km

5.In covering a distance of 30 km, Arun takes 2 hours more than Anil. If Arun doubles his speed, then he would take 1 hour less than Anil. What is Arun’s speed?
A. 8 kmphB. 5 kmph
C. 4 kmphD. 7 kmph

 

Answer : Option B

Explanation :

Let the speed of Arun = x kmph and the speed of Anil = y kmph
distance = 30 km

We know that distance/speed=time. Hence, 30/x−30/y=2………..(Equation1)

30/y−30/2x=1………..(Equation2)

Equation1 + Equation2⇒30/x−30/2x=3⇒30/2x=3⇒15/x=3⇒5/x=1⇒x=5. Hence Arun’s speed = 5 kmph

6.A car travels first 160 km at 64 km/hr and the next 160 km at 80 km/hr. What is the average speed for the first 320 km of the tour?
A. 70.24 km/hrB. 74. 24 km/hr
C. 71.11 km/hrD. 72.21 km/hr

 

Answer : Option C

Explanation :

If a car covers a certain distance at x kmph and an equal distance at y kmph,the average speed of the whole journey = 2xy/(x+y) kmph.

By using the same formula, we can find out the average speed quickly average speed = (2×64×80)/(64+80)=(2×64×80)/144⇒ (2×32×40)/36= (2×32×10)/9⇒ (64×10)/9=71.11 kmph

7.A man rides his bicycle 10 km at an average speed of 12 km/hr and again travels 12 km at an average speed of 10 km/hr. What is his average speed for the entire trip approximately?
A. 11.2 kmphB. 10 kmph
C. 10.2 kmphD. 10.8 kmph

 

Answer : Option D

Explanation :

Total distance travelled = 10 + 12 = 22 km

Time taken to travel 10 km at an average speed of 12 km/hr = distance/speed=10/12 hr

Time taken to travel 12 km at an average speed of 10 km/hr = distance/speed=12/10 hr

Total time taken =10/12+12/10 hr

Average speed = distance/time=22/(10/12+12/10)=(22×120)/{(10×10)+(12×12)}

(22×120)/244=(11×120)/122=(11×60)/61=660/61≈10.8 kmph

8.An airplane covers a certain distance at a speed of 240 kmph in 5 hours. To cover the same distance in 123 hours, it must travel at a speed of:
A. 660 km/hrB. 680 km/hr
C. 700 km/hrD. 720 km/hr

 

Answer : Option D

Explanation :

Speed and time are inversely proportional ⇒Speed ∝ 1/Time (when distance is constant)

Here distance is constant and Speed and time are inversely proportional

Speed ∝ 1/Time⇒Speed1/Speed2=Time2/Time1

⇒240/Speed2=(1*2/3)5⇒240/Speed2=(5/3)/5⇒240/Speed2=1/3⇒Speed2=240×3=720 km/hr

9.A train can travel 50% faster than a car. Both start from point A at the same time and reach point B 75 kms away from A at the same time. On the way, however, the train lost about 12.5 minutes while stopping at the stations. What is the speed of the car?
A. 80 kmphB. 102 kmph
C. 120 kmphD. 140 kmph

 

Answer : Option C

Explanation :

Let speed of the car = x kmph

Then speed of the train = x *(100+50)/100=150 x /100=3 x /2 kmph

Time taken by the car to travel from A to B=75/x hours

Time taken by the train to travel from A to B=75/(3 x /2)+12.5/60 hours

Since both start from A at the same time and reach point B at the same time

75/x=75/(3 x /2)+12.5/60⇒25/x=12.5/60⇒x=(25×60)/12.5=2×60=120

TIME AND WORK

In these problems the number of persons, quantity of work done and time taken are important factors. Also time taken by a person depends on the efficiency of that person which comes into picture when different people do the work such as women, children do the work alongside the men. The problems related to time and work can be solved by two major approaches – ratio & proportions and unitary method. Let us proceed to find some formulae related to these questions.

Important Formulas – Time and Work

  • If A can do a piece of work in n days, work done by A in 1 day = 1/n

 

  • If A does 1/n work in a day, A can finish the work in n days

 

  • If M1 men can do W1 work in D1 days working H1 hours per day and M2 men can do W2 work in D2 days working H2 hours per day (where all men work at the same rate), then

M1 D1 H1 / W1 = M2 D2 H2 / W2

 

  • If A can do a piece of work in p days and B can do the same in q days, A and B together can finish it in pq / (p+q) days

 

  • If A is thrice as good as B in work, then

Ratio of work done by A and B = 3:1

Ratio of time taken to finish a work by A and B = 1: 3

 

SOLVED EXAMPLES

Level 1

1.P is able to do a piece of work in 15 days and Q can do the same work in 20 days. If they can work together for 4 days, what is the fraction of work left?
A. 8/15B. 7/15
C. 11/15D. 2/11

 

Answer : Option A

Explanation :

Amount of work P can do in 1 day = 1/15

Amount of work Q can do in 1 day = 1/20

Amount of work P and Q can do in 1 day = 1/15 + 1/20 = 7/60

Amount of work P and Q can together do in 4 days = 4 × (7/60) = 7/15

Fraction of work left = 1 – 7/15= 8/15

2.A can do a piece of work in 4 hours . A and C together can do it in just 2 hours, while B and C together need 3 hours to finish the same work. B alone can complete the work in — hours.
A. 12 hoursB. 6 hours
C. 8 hoursD. 10 hours

 

Answer : Option A

Explanation :

Work done by A in 1 hour = 1/4

Work done by B and C in 1 hour = 1/3

Work done by A and C in 1 hour = 1/2

Work done by A,B and C in 1 hour = 1/4+1/3 = 7/12

Work done by B in 1 hour = 7/12 – 1/2 = 1/12

=> B alone can complete the work in 12 hours

3.A completes 80% of a work in 20 days. Then B also joins and A and B together finish the remaining work in 3 days. How long does it need for B if he alone completes the work?
A. 37 ½ daysB. 22 days
C. 31 daysD. 22 days

 

Answer : Option A

Explanation :

Work done by A in 20 days = 80/100 = 8/10 = 4/5

Work done by A in 1 day = (4/5) / 20 = 4/100 = 1/25 — (1)

Work done by A and B in 3 days = 20/100 = 1/5 (Because remaining 20% is done in 3 days by A and B)

Work done by A and B in 1 day = 1/15 —(2)

Work done by B in 1 day = 1/15 – 1/25 = 2/75

=> B can complete the work in 75/2 days = 37 ½ days

4.P can finish a work in 18 days. Q can finish the same work in 15 days. Q worked for 10 days and left the job. How many days does P alone need to finish the remaining work?
A. 8B. 5
C. 4D. 6

 

Answer : Option D

Explanation :

Work done by P in 1 day = 1/18

Work done by Q in 1 day = 1/15

Work done by Q in 10 days = 10/15 = 2/3

Remaining work = 1 – 2/3 = 1/3

Number of days in which P can finish the remaining work = (1/3) / (1/18) = 6

5.Anil and Suresh are working on a special assignment. Anil needs 6 hours to type 32 pages on a computer and Suresh needs 5 hours to type 40 pages. If both of them work together on two different computers, how much time is needed to type an assignment of 110 pages?
A. 7 hour 15 minutesB. 7 hour 30 minutes
C. 8 hour 15 minutesD. 8 hour 30 minutes

 

Answer : Option C

Explanation :

Pages typed by Anil in 1 hour = 32/6 = 16/3

Pages typed by Suresh in 1 hour = 40/5 = 8

Pages typed by Anil and Suresh in 1 hour = 16/3 + 8 = 40/3

Time taken to type 110 pages when Anil and Suresh work together = 110 × 3 /40 = 33/4

= 8 ¼ hours = 8 hour 15 minutes

6.P works twice as fast as Q. If Q alone can complete a work in 12 days, P and Q can finish the work in — days
A. 1B. 2
C. 3D. 4

 

Answer : Option D

Explanation :

Work done by Q in 1 day = 1/12

Work done by P in 1 day = 2 × (1/12) = 1/6

Work done by P and Q in 1 day = 1/12 + 1/6 = ¼

=> P and Q can finish the work in 4 days

7.A work can be finished in 16 days by twenty women. The same work can be finished in fifteen days by sixteen men. The ratio between the capacity of a man and a woman is
A. 1:3B. 4:3
C. 2:3D. 2:1

 

Answer : Option B

Explanation :

Work done by 20 women in 1 day = 1/16

Work done by 1 woman in 1 day = 1/(16×20)

Work done by 16 men in 1 day = 1/15

Work done by 1 man in 1 day = 1/(15×16)

8.P,Q and R together earn Rs.1620 in 9 days. P and R can earn Rs.600 in 5 days. Q and R in 7 days can earn Rs.910. How much amount does R can earn per day?

A. Rs.40B. Rs.70
C. Rs.90D. Rs.100

 

Answer : Option B

Explanation :

Amount Earned by P,Q and R in 1 day = 1620/9 = 180 —(1)

Amount Earned by P and R in 1 day = 600/5 = 120 —(2)

Amount Earned by Q and R in 1 day = 910/7 = 130 —(3)

(2)+(3)-(1) => Amount Earned by P , Q and 2R in 1 day

– Amount Earned by P,Q and R in 1 day = 120+130-180 = 70

=>Amount Earned by R in 1 day = 70
Ratio of the capacity of a man and woman =1/(15×16) : 1/(16×20) = 1/15 : 1/20

= 1/3 :1/4 = 4:3

Level 2

1.P, Q and R can do a work in 20, 30 and 60 days respectively. How many days does it need to complete the work if P does the work and he is assisted by Q and R on every third day?
A. 10 daysB. 14 days
C. 15 daysD. 9 days

 

Answer : Option C

Explanation :

Amount of work P can do in 1 day = 1/20

Amount of work Q can do in 1 day = 1/30

Amount of work R can do in 1 day = 1/60

P is working alone and every third day Q and R is helping him

Work completed in every three days = 2 × (1/20) + (1/20 + 1/30 + 1/60) = 1/5

So work completed in 15 days = 5 × 1/5 = 1

Ie, the work will be done in 15 days

2.A is thrice as good as B in work. A is able to finish a job in 60 days less than B. They can finish the work in – days if they work together.
A. 18 daysB. 22 ½ days
C. 24 daysD. 26 days

 

Answer : Option B

Explanation :

If A completes a work in 1 day, B completes the same work in 3 days

Hence, if the difference is 2 days, B can complete the work in 3 days

=> if the difference is 60 days, B can complete the work in 90 days

=> Amount of work B can do in 1 day= 1/90

Amount of work A can do in 1 day = 3 × (1/90) = 1/30

Amount of work A and B can together do in 1 day = 1/90 + 1/30 = 4/90 = 2/45

=> A and B together can do the work in 45/2 days = 22 ½ days

3.P can do a work in the same time in which Q and R together can do it. If P and Q work together, the work can be completed in 10 days. R alone needs 50 days to complete the same work. then Q alone can do it in
A. 30 daysB. 25 days
C. 20 daysD. 15 days

 

Answer : Option B

Explanation :

Work done by P and Q in 1 day = 1/10

Work done by R in 1 day = 1/50

Work done by P, Q and R in 1 day = 1/10 + 1/50 = 6/50

But Work done by P in 1 day = Work done by Q and R in 1 day . Hence the above equation can be written as Work done by P in 1 day × 2 = 6/50

=> Work done by P in 1 day = 3/50

=> Work done by Q and R in 1 day = 3/50

Hence work done by Q in 1 day = 3/50 – 1/50 = 2/50 = 1/25

So Q alone can do the work in 25 days

4.6 men and 8 women can complete a work in 10 days. 26 men and 48 women can finish the same work in 2 days. 15 men and 20 women can do the same work in – days.

A. 4 daysB. 6 days
C. 2 daysD. 8 days

 

Answer : Option A

Explanation :

Let work done by 1 man in 1 day = m and work done by 1 woman in 1 day = b

Work done by 6 men and 8 women in 1 day = 1/10

=> 6m + 8b = 1/10

=> 60m + 80b = 1 — (1)

Work done by 26 men and 48 women in 1 day = 1/2

=> 26m + 48b = ½

=> 52m + 96b = 1— (2)

Solving equation 1 and equation 2. We get m = 1/100 and b = 1/200

Work done by 15 men and 20 women in 1 day

= 15/100 + 20/200 =1/4

=> Time taken by 15 men and 20 women in doing the work = 4 days

5.Machine P can print one lakh books in 8 hours. Machine Q can print the same number of books in 10 hours while machine R can print the same in 12 hours. All the machines started printing at 9 A.M. Machine P is stopped at 11 A.M. and the remaining two machines complete work. Approximately at what time will the printing of one lakh books be completed?
A. 3 pmB. 2 pm
C. 1:00 pmD. 11 am

 

Answer : Option C

Explanation :

Work done by P in 1 hour = 1/8

Work done by Q in 1 hour = 1/10

Work done by R in 1 hour = 1/12

Work done by P,Q and R in 1 hour = 1/8 + 1/10 + 1/12 = 37/120

Work done by Q and R in 1 hour = 1/10 + 1/12 = 22/120 = 11/60

From 9 am to 11 am, all the machines were operating.

Ie, they all operated for 2 hours and work completed = 2 × (37/120) = 37/60.

6.A can complete a work in 12 days with a working of 8 hours per day. B can complete the same work in 8 days when working 10 hours a day. If A and B work together, working 8 hours a day, the work can be completed in — days.
A. 5 511B. 4 511
C. 6 411D. 6 511

 

Answer : Option A

Explanation :

A can complete the work in 12 days working 8 hours a day

=> Number of hours A can complete the work = 12×8 = 96 hours

=> Work done by A in 1 hour = 1/96

B can complete the work in 8 days working 10 hours a day

=> Number of hours B can complete the work = 8×10 = 80 hours => Work done by B in 1 hour = 1/80

Work done by A and B in 1 hour = 1/96 + 1/80 = 11/480 => A and B can complete the work in 480/11 hours. A and B works 8 hours a day.

Hence total days to complete the work with A and B working together = (480/11)/ (8) = 60/11 days = 5 511 days

Pending work = 1- 37/60 = 23/60

Hours taken by Q an R to complete the pending work = (23/60) / (11/60) = 23/11

which is approximately equal to 2. Hence the work will be completed approximately 2 hours after 11 am ; ie around 1 pm

7.If daily wages of a man is double to that of a woman, how many men should work for 25 days to earn Rs.14400? Given that wages for 40 women for 30 days are Rs.21600.
A. 12B. 14
C. 16D. 18

 

Answer : Option C

Explanation :

Wages of 1 woman for 1 day = 21600/(40×30)

Wages of 1 man for 1 day = (21600×2)/(40×30)

Wages of 1 man for 25 days = (21600×2×25)/(40×30)

Number of men = 14400/(21600×2×25)/(40×30)=144/(216×50)/40×30)=144/9=16

8.There is a group of persons each of whom can complete a piece of work in 16 days, when they are working individually. On the first day one person works, on the second day another person joins him, on the third day one more person joins them and this process continues till the work is completed. How many days are needed to complete the work?
A. 3 14 daysB. 4 13 days
C. 5 16 daysD. 6 15 days

 

Answer : Option C

Explanation :

Work completed in 1st day = 1/16

Work completed in 2nd day = (1/16) + (1/16) = 2/16

Work completed in 3rd day = (1/16) + (1/16) + (1/16) = 3/16

An easy way to attack such problems is from the choices. You can see the choices are

very close to each other. So just see one by one.

For instance, The first choice given in 3 14

The work done in 3 days = 1/16 + 2/16 + 3/16 = (1+2+3)/16 = 6/16

The work done in 4 days = (1+2+3+4)/16 = 10/16

The work done in 5 days = (1+2+3+4+5)/16 = 15/16, almost close, isn’t it?

The work done in 6 days = (1+2+3+4+5+6)/16 > 1

Hence the answer is less than 6, but greater than 5. Hence the answer is 5 16 days.

(Just for your reference, work done in 5 days = 15/16)

Pending work in 6th day = 1 – 15/16 = 1/16.

In 6th day, 6 people are working and work done = 6/16.

To complete the work 1/16, time required = (1/16) / (6/16) = 1/6 days.

Hence total time required = 5 + 1/6 = 5 16 days

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