Time‑Speed‑Distance – Quick & Easy Study Notes
(For Maharashtra TET – Quantitative Aptitude)
1. What is it?
- Time – how long something takes.
- Speed – how fast it moves.
- Distance – how far it goes.
These three are linked:
Distance = Speed × Time
Think of a delivery driver:
- Distance is the road length between two addresses.
- Speed is how fast the driver goes (e.g., 60 km/h).
- Time is how long the trip takes.
2. The Simple Formulae
| What you need | Formula (short) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Speed = Distance ÷ Time | “How fast” |
| Distance | Distance = Speed × Time | “How far” |
| Time | Time = Distance ÷ Speed | “How long” |
Always keep the units the same (e.g., km and hours, or m and seconds).
3. Everyday Example
| Situation | Numbers | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| A car travels 80 km in 2 hours | Distance = 80 km, Time = 2 h | Speed = 80 ÷ 2 = 40 km/h | The car’s average speed |
Check: 40 km/h × 2 h = 80 km → correct.
4. Quick Tips
- Same units – If distance is in meters, use seconds for time.
- Round only at the end – Do all arithmetic first, then round.
- Think “average” – Most TET questions ask for average speed, not peak speed.
5. Practice Problems
-
Train problem
A train covers 150 km in 3 hours. What is its average speed? -
Bike problem
A cyclist rides 12 km in 24 minutes. What is his speed in km/h? -
Mixed units
A runner covers 500 m in 1.5 minutes. What is his speed in m/s? -
Time from speed
A scooter travels at 30 km/h. How long will it take to cover 45 km? -
Distance from time
A bus travels for 4 hours at 55 km/h. What distance did it cover?
6. Answers
| # | Question | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Train | Speed = 150 ÷ 3 = 50 km/h | |
| 2 | Bike | 24 min = 0.4 h → Speed = 12 ÷ 0.4 = 30 km/h | |
| 3 | Runner | 1.5 min = 90 s → Speed = 500 ÷ 90 ≈ 5.56 m/s | |
| 4 | Scooter | Time = 45 ÷ 30 = 1.5 h | |
| 5 | Bus | Distance = 55 × 4 = 220 km |
7. Mini‑Quiz – Try These
| # | Problem | Hint |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A plane flies 600 km in 2 hours. Speed? | Use (S = D ÷ t) |
| 2 | A car travels 90 km/h for 1.5 h. Distance? | Use (D = S × t) |
| 3 | A bike covers 10 km in 25 min. Speed in km/h? | Convert min → h first |
(Answer after you try!)
Recap
- Distance = Speed × Time
- Speed = Distance ÷ Time
- Time = Distance ÷ Speed
Use the same units, do the math, and you’re done!
Good luck with your Maharashtra TET preparation!