Time‑Speed‑Distance – Quick & Easy Notes
1. What are the three things?
| Thing | What it means | Everyday Analogy |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | How far you travel. | The number of steps from your house to the school. |
| Speed | How fast you go. | How many steps you take each second. |
| Time | How long you travel. | The seconds you spend walking. |
Remember: If any two of these are known, the third can be found.
2. The Simple Formula
Distance = Speed × Time
- Speed is the “how fast” part.
- Time is the “how long” part.
- Distance is the “how far” part.
Because the formula works in both directions, you can also write:
Speed = Distance ÷ Time
Time = Distance ÷ Speed
3. Step‑by‑Step Example
Problem:
A bike rider covers 30 km in 1.5 hours.
Find the speed.
Solution
- Know the formula
Speed = Distance ÷ Time - Plug the numbers
Speed = 30 km ÷ 1.5 h - Do the division
Speed = 20 km/h
Answer: The rider goes 20 km per hour.
4. Quick Practice Problems
| # | Question | What do you need to find? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A car travels 80 km in 2 hours. | Speed |
| 2 | A train needs 4 hours to travel 240 km. | Speed |
| 3 | A runner covers 10 km at 5 km/h. | Time |
| 4 | A cyclist wants to finish 50 km in 2 hours. | Needed speed |
| 5 | A bus travels at 35 km/h for 3 hours. | Distance |
Tip: Write the formula that fits the missing piece.
5. Common Unit Helpers
| Unit | How to use it | Quick Check |
|---|---|---|
| km (kilometers) | Distance in the road | 1 km = 1000 m |
| h (hours) | Time in the day | 1 h = 60 min |
| km/h | Speed on the road | If distance is km and time is h, speed comes out in km/h |
If you get minutes:
30 minutes = 0.5 hours
6. Cheat Sheet
| Find | Use | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | You know speed & time | D = S × T |
| Speed | You know distance & time | S = D ÷ T |
| Time | You know distance & speed | T = D ÷ S |
7. Summary
- Distance = how far.
- Speed = how fast.
- Time = how long.
- The three are linked by
Distance = Speed × Time. - Swap the formula to solve for the missing one.
- Keep units the same (km with km, hours with hours).
With these simple steps, you can crack any basic “time‑speed‑distance” question. Happy studying!