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'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy

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sriharimurthy 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] Dec 02, 2009 1:17 am
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GMAT 1: 750 Q50 V42 NOTE: In case you are not familiar with translating word problems into equations please go through this post first :
word-problems-made-easy-87346.html
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What is a ‘D/S/T’ Word Problem?

Usually involve something/someone moving at a constant or average speed.
Out of the three quantities (speed/distance/time), we are required to find one.
Information regarding the other two will be provided in the question stem.
The ‘D/S/T’ Formula: Distance = Speed x Time

I’m sure most of you are already familiar with the above formula (or some variant of it). But how many of you truly understand what it signifies?
When you see a ‘D/S/T’ question, do you blindly start plugging values into the formula without really understanding the logic behind it? If then
answer to that question is yes, then you would probably have noticed that your accuracy isn’t quite where you’d want it to be.
My advice here, as usual, is to make sure you understand the concept behind the formula rather than just using it blindly.
So what’s the concept? Lets find out!
The Distance = Speed x Time formula is just a way of saying that the distance you travel depends on the speed you go for any length of
time.
If you travel at 50 mph for one hour, then you would have traveled 50 miles. If you travel for 2 hours at that speed, you would have traveled
100 miles. 3 hours would be 150 miles, etc.
If you were to double the speed, then you would have traveled 100 miles in the first hour and 200 miles at the end of the second hour.
We can figure out any one of the components by knowing the other two.
For example, if you have to travel a distance of 100 miles, but can only go at a speed of 50 mph, then you know that it will take you 2 hours
to get there. Similarly, if a friend visits you from 100 miles away and tells you that it took him 4 hours to reach, you will know that he
AVERAGED 25 mph. Right?
All calculations depend on AVERAGE SPEED.
Supposing your friend told you that he was stuck in traffic along the way and that he traveled at 50 mph whenever he could move.
Therefore, although practically he never really traveled at 25 mph, you can see how the standstills due to traffic caused his average to
reduce. Now, if you think about it, from the information given, you can actually tell how long he was driving and how long he was stuck due
to traffic (assuming; what is false but what they never worry about in these problems; that he was either traveling at 50 mph or 0 mph). If VERIFIED REVIEW
he was traveling constantly at 50 mph, he should have reached in 2 hours. However, since he took 4 hours, he must have spent the other 2
hours stuck in traffic!
Now lets see how we can represent this using the formula.
We know that the total distance is 100 miles and that the total time is 4 hours. BUT, his rates were different AND they were different at
-By marjo333 740
different times. However, can you see that no matter how many different rates he drove for various different time periods, his TOTAL
distance depended simply on the SUM of each of the different distances he drove during each time period?
E.g., if you drive a half hour at 60 mph, you will cover 30 miles. Then if you speed up to 80 mph for another half hour, you will cover 40
miles, and then if you slow down to 30 mph, you will only cover 15 miles in the next half hour. But if you drove like this, you would have
covered a total of 85 miles (30 + 40 + 15). It is fairly easy to see this looking at it this way, but it is more difficult to see it if we scramble it
up and leave out one of the amounts and you have to figure it out going "backwards". That is what word problems do.
Further, what makes them difficult is that the components they give you, or ask you to find can involve variable distances, variable times,
variable speeds, or any two or three of these. How you "reassemble" all this in order to use the d = s*t formula takes some reflection that is
"outside" of the formula itself. You have to think about how to use the formula. READ MORE...
So the trick is to be able to understand EXACTLY what they are giving you and EXACTLY what it is that is missing, but you do that from
1 of 11 29-Mar-18, 7:28 AM
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Are you using the WordPress for iOS app on your mobile
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thinking, not from the formula, because the formula only works for the COMPONENTS of any trip where you are going an average speed update to the share extension in the app...
for a certain amount of time. ONCE the conditions deal with different speeds or different times, you have to look at each of those
By vpamorim
components and how they go together. And that can be very difficult if you are not methodical in how you think about the components and
how they go together. The formula doesn't tell you which components you need to look at and how they go together. For that, you need to
think, and the thinking is not always as easy or straightforward as it seems like it ought to be. Updated Signup and Site Creation on Mobile
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In the case of your friend above, if we call the time he spent driving 50 mph, T1; then the time he spent standing still is (4 - T1) hours, since
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the whole trip took 4 hours. So we have 100 miles = (50 mph x T1) + (0 mph x [4 - T1]) which is equivalent then to: 100 miles = 50 mph x applications. (WordPress.com offers apps for your Android
T1 or iOS device.)...
By vpamorim
So, T1 will equal 2 hours. And, since the time he spent going zero is (4 - 2), it also turns out to be 2 hours.
Sometimes the right answers will seem counter-intuitive, so it is really important to think about the components methodically and
systematically.
There is a famous trick problem: To qualify for a race, you need to average 60 mph driving two laps around a 1 mile long track. You have You Can’t Go Home
You’re excited to move back to your home country, after
some sort of engine difficulty the first lap so that you only average 30 mph during that lap; how fast do you have to drive the second lap to
living abroad for ten years. You’re enthusiastic about the
average 60 for both of them?
potential to bring back new ideas, about the professional
opportunities...
I will go through THIS problem with you because, since it is SO tricky, it will illustrate a way of looking at almost all the kinds of things you
By bschooladmit20
have to think about when working any of these kinds of problems FOR THE FIRST TIME (i.e., before you can do them mechanically because
you recognize the TYPE of problem it is). Intuitively it would seem you need to drive 90, but this turns out to be wrong for reasons I will give
in a minute. What I Learned as a Second Year Stanford MBA
Student
Doing an MBA is like drinking from a firehouse. You will have
The answer is that NO MATTER HOW FAST you do the second lap, you can't make it. And this SEEMS really odd and that it can't possibly be more opportunities- in terms of internships, jobs, classes,
right, but it is. The reason is that in order to average at least 60 mph over two one-mile laps, since 60 mph is one mile per minute, you will friendships and travel- come your way than you can...
need to do the whole two miles in two minutes or less. But if you drove the first mile at only 30, you used up the whole two minutes just
By bschooladmit20
doing IT. So you have run out of time to qualify.
To see this with the d = s*t formula, you need to look at the overall trip and break it into components, and that is the hardest part of doing
this (these) problem(s), because (often) the components are difficult to figure out, and because it is hard to see which ones you need to put
together in which way.
Study Plan
In the next section we will learn how to do just that.
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Resolving the Components GMAT Course Reviews
When you first start out with these problems, the best way to approach them is by organizing the data in a tabular form. GMAT Practice Tests
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Use a separate column each for distance, speed and time and a separate row for the different components involved (2 parts of a journey,
different moving objects, etc.). The last row should represent total distance, total time and average speed for these values (although there
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might be no need to calculate these values if the question does not require them).
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ALL YOU NEED FOR QUANT ! ! 65

Assign a variable for any unknown quantity. ! by Bunuel
If there is more than one unknown quantity, do not blindly assign another variable to it. Look for ways in which you can express that quantity Math: Number Theory by Bunuel 50
in terms of the quantities already present. Assign another variable to it only if this is not possible.
Tips and Hints for Specific Quant Topics 30
In each row, the quantities of distance, speed and time will always satisfy d = s*t. (with Examples) by Bunuel
The distance and time column can be added to give you the values of total distance and total time but you CANNOT add the speeds. GMAT MATH BOOK in downloadable 28
PDF format by Bunuel
Think about it: If you drive 20 mph on one street, and 40 mph on another street, does that mean you averaged 60 mph?
Once the table is ready, form the equations and solve for what has been asked!
Warning: Make sure that the units for time and distance agree with the units for the rate. For instance, if they give you a rate of feet per second,
then your time must be in seconds and your distance must be in feet. Sometimes they try to trick you by using the wrong units, and you have to [Math Revolution] Practice “Math Questions of
catch this and convert to the correct units. the Day”
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Round Trip: The key thing here is that the distance going and coming back is the same. request to…
Now that we know the concept in theory, let us see how it works practically, with the help of a few examples. Math Revolution Question Bank
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Example 1.
To qualify for a race, you need to average 60 mph driving two laps around a 1-mile long track. You have some sort of engine difficulty the first lap Math Revolution Question Bank
so that you only average 30 mph during that lap; how fast do you have to drive the second lap to average 60 for both of them? Take Advantage of Math Revolution’s Unmatched “Up-to-
Date” Question Bank Along with Our On-Demand Course
Solution: and You Will Be Confident in…
Let us first start with a problem that has already been introduced. You will see that by clearly listing out the given data in tabular form, we
eliminate any scope for confusion.
Attachment:
Eg.1.png [ 17.55 KiB | Viewed 727480 times ]
In the first row, we are given the distance and the speed. Thus it is possible to calculate the time.
Time(1) = Distance(1)/Speed(1) = 1/30
In the second row, we are given just the distance. Since we have to calculate speed, let us give it a variable 'x'. Now, by using the 'D/S/T'
relationship, time can also be expressed in terms of 'x'.
2 of 11 29-Mar-18, 7:28 AM
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Time(2) = Distance(2)/Speed(2) = 1/x
In the third row, we know that the total distance is 2 miles (by taking the sum of the distances in row 1 and 2) and that the average speed should
be 60 mph. Thus we can calculate the total time that the two laps should take.
Time(3) = Distance(3)/Speed(3) = 2/60 = 1/30
Now, we know that the total time should be the sum of the times in row 1 and 2. Thus we can form the following equation :
Time(3) = Time(1) + Time(2) ---> 1/30 = 1/30 + 1/x
From this, it becomes clear that '1/x' must be 0.
Since 'x' is the reciprocal of 0, which does not exist, there can be no speed for which the average can be made up in the second lap.
Example 2.
An executive drove from home at an average speed of 30 mph to an airport where a helicopter was waiting. The executive boarded the helicopter
and flew to the corporate offices at an average speed of 60 mph. The entire distance was 150 miles; the entire trip took three hours. Find the
distance from the airport to the corporate offices.
Solution:
Let us see what the table looks like.
Since we have been asked to find the distance from the airport to the corporate office (that is the distance he spent flying), let us assign that
specific value as 'x'.
Thus, the distance he spent driving will be '150 - x'

Now, in the first row, we have the distance in terms of 'x' and we have been given the speed. Thus we can calculate the time he spent driving in
terms of 'x'.
Time(1) = Distance(1)/Speed(1) = (150 - x)/30

Similarly, in the second row, we again have the distance in terms of 'x' and we have been given the speed. Thus we can calculate the time he
spent flying in terms of 'x'.
Time(2) = Distance(2)/Speed(2) = x/60

Now, notice that we have both the times in terms of 'x'. Also, we know the total time for the trip. Thus, summing the individual times spent
driving and flying and equating it to the total time, we can solve for 'x'.
Time(1) + Time(2) = Time(3) --> (150 - x)/30 + x/60 = 3 --> x = 120 miles
Answer : 120 miles
Note: In this problem, we did not calculate average speed for row 3 since we did not need it. Remember not to waste time in useless calculations!
Example 3.
A passenger train leaves the train depot 2 hours after a freight train left the same depot. The freight train is traveling 20 mph slower than the
passenger train. Find the speed of the passenger train, if it overtakes the freight train in three hours.
Solution:
Let us look at the tabular representation of the data :
Since this is an 'overtaking' problem, the first thing that should strike us is that the distance traveled by both trains is the same at the time of
overtaking.
Next we see that we have been asked to find the speed of the passenger train at the time of overtaking. So let us represent it by 'x'.
Also, we are given that the freight train is 20 mph slower than the passenger train. Hence its speed in terms of 'x' can be written as 'x - 20'.
Moving on to the time, we are told that it has taken the passenger train 3 hours to reach the freight train. This means that the passenger train has
been traveling for 3 hours.
We are also given that the passenger train left 2 hours after the freight train. This means that the freight train has been traveling for 3 + 2 = 5
hours.
Now that we have all the data in place, we need to form an equation that will help us solve for 'x'. Since we know that the distances are equal, let
us see how we can use this to our advantage.
From the first row, we can form the following equation :
Distance(1) = Speed(1) * Time(1) = x*3

From the second row, we can form the following equation :
Distance(2) = Speed(2) * Time(2) = (x - 20)*5

Now, equating the distances because they are equal we get the following equation :
3*x = 5*(x - 20) --> x = 50 mph.

Answer : 50 mph.
Example 4.
Two cyclists start at the same time from opposite ends of a course that is 45 miles long. One cyclist is riding at 14 mph and the second cyclist is
riding at 16 mph. How long after they begin will they meet?
Solution:
Let us see what the tabular representation look likes :
Since this is a 'meeting' problem, there are two things that should strike you. First, since they are starting at the same time, when they meet, the
time for which both will have been cycling will be the same. Second, the total distance traveled by the will be equal to the sum of their individual
distances.
Since we are asked to find the time, let us assign it as a variable 't'. (which is same for both cyclists)
In the first row, we know the speed and we have the time in terms of 't'. Thus we can get the following equation :
Distance(1) = Speed(1) * Time(1) = 14*t

In the second row, we know the speed and again we have the time in terms of 't'. Thus we can get the following equation :
Distance(2) = Speed(2) * Time(2) = 16*t

Now we know that the total distance traveled is 45 miles and it is equal to the sum of the two distances. Thus we get the following equation to
solve for 't' :
Distance(3) = Distance(1) + Distance(2) --> 45 = 14*t + 16*t --> t = 1.5 hours

Answer : 1.5 hours.
Example 5.
A boat travels for three hours with a current of 3 mph and then returns the same distance against the current in four hours. What is the boat's
speed in calm water?
Solution:
Let us see what the tabular representation looks like :
Since this is a question on round trip, the first thing that should strike us is that the distance going and coming back will be the same.
Now, we are required to find out the boats speed in calm water. So let us assume it to be 'b'. Now if speed of the current is 3 mph, then the speed
of the boat while going downstream and upstream will be 'b + 3' and 'b - 3' respectively.
In the first row, we have the speed of the boat in terms of 'b' and we are given the time. Thus we can get the following equation :
Distance(1) = Speed(1) * Time(1) = (b + 3)*3

In the second row, we again have the speed in terms of 'b' and we are given the time. Thus we can get the following equation :
3 of 11 29-Mar-18, 7:28 AM
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Distance(2) = Speed(2) * Time(2) = (b - 3)*4

Since the two distances are equal, we can equate them and solve for 'b'.
Distance(1) = Distance(2) --> (b + 3)*3 = (b - 3)*4 --> b = 21 mph.

Answer : 21 mph.
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2) 'Work' Problems Made Easy : http://gmatclub.com/forum/work-word-problems-made-easy-87357.html
3) 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy : http://gmatclub.com/forum/distance-speed-time-word-problems-made-easy-87481.html
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gmatdelhi Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] Aug 11, 2010 10:08 am
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Thanks a lot for this really helpful post! I used to go for CAT coaching with TIME institute about 2 years back...and I thought the method they
taught to solve DST questions was unbeatable...but urs makes it even simpler, and so quick! If I save any time on GMAT while solving DST
questions, the credit will def go to you!
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Bunuel Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] Oct 28, 2010 11:30 am
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Expert's post
rags10 wrote:
Hi Srihari,
Could you please guide me in solving this problem.
Joined: 03 Sep 2009 A man cycling along the road noticed that every 12 minutes a bus overtakes him and every 4 minutes he meets an oncoming bus. If all buses
Posts: 44491 and the cyclist move at a constant speed, what is the time interval between consecutive buses?
Kudos [?]: 146708 [0], given: 12918
FOLLOW SEND PM 5 minutes

6 minutes
8 minutes
9 minutes
10 minutes
This problem involves both same direction and opposite direction motion. How do we use the tabular format for this?
Please, post the new questions in a separate thread.
Above question was discussed here: test-m08-question-n18-88723.html?hilit=cycling
Hope it helps.
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Tennisball121 Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] Dec 08, 2010 1:04 am
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Hi,
4 of 11 29-Mar-18, 7:28 AM
Author Message
just looked at your 4th example and I think this problem ist much easier by calculating:
1) Calculate the total speed for one cyclist standing still:

14 mph + 16 mph = 30 mph
2) Calculate the total time when Distance is finished:
45m / 30mph = 1.5h

Joined: 07 Dec 2010
Posts: 1 That's it!
Kudos [?]: [0], given: 3
But nevertheless: Great post!
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dkj1984 Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] Jul 25, 2011 9:54 pm
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Example 2.
An executive drove from home at an average speed of 30 mph to an airport where a helicopter was waiting. The executive boarded the helicopter
and flew to the corporate offices at an average speed of 60 mph. The entire distance was 150 miles; the entire trip took three hours. Find the
distance from the airport to the corporate offices.
Hi ,
Can someone please let me know what would be the average sped in this case .
Joined: 28 Mar 2011
Will it be total distance / total time = 150 / 3 or will it be 2ab/a+b = 2(30*60) / 90
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Please advise.
Thanks!
Regards,
Divya
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VeritasPrepKarishma Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] Jul 28, 2011 11:31 am
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dkj1984 wrote:
Example 2.
An executive drove from home at an average speed of 30 mph to an airport where a helicopter was waiting. The executive boarded the
helicopter and flew to the corporate offices at an average speed of 60 mph. The entire distance was 150 miles; the entire trip took three
hours. Find the distance from the airport to the corporate offices.
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Posts: 8005 Hi ,
Kudos [?]: 19207 [5], given: 238
Location: Pune, India
Can someone please let me know what would be the average sped in this case .
FOLLOW SEND PM Will it be total distance / total time = 150 / 3 or will it be 2ab/a+b = 2(30*60) / 90
Please advise.
Thanks!
Regards,
Divya
I will clear your doubt but first let me give you some unsolicited 'gyan'.
When dealing with formulas, remember two things:
1. Do not learn up formulas without knowing the assumptions made to derive them.
2. Make sure you understand how they are derived and the starting point.
Average speed is always Total Distance/Total Time.
1. The formula 2ab/(a+b) assumes that the distance traveled at speed a is the same as the distance traveled at speed b. Say distance traveled in
each case is 1 km.
2. Derivation:
Average Speed = Total Distance/Total Time = (1+1)/(1/a + 1/b) = 2ab/(a+b)
So in case you have three speeds a, b and c, you know how to get the average speed in that case too.
Coming to this question, the formula is not used here because it doesn't say that the distance traveled at the two speeds is the same.
Average Speed = Total distance/Total Time = 150/3 = 50 km/hr
Now there are two ways to handle it:

1. Weighted averages
2. Using algebra
Weighted Averages Method:

This now becomes a weighted average problem since you have two speeds and their average is known. The weights will be the time for which the
speeds were maintained.
w1/w2 = (60 - 50)/(50 - 30) = 1:2
So plane travel lasted 2 hrs and car travel lasted 1 hr.
Distance traveled by plane = 2*60 = 120 km
Algebra Method:
Let time for which he traveled by plane is t hrs.
50 = (t*60 + (3-t)*30)/3
150 = 60t - 30t + 90
t = 2 hrs
So plane travel lasted 2 hrs.
Distance traveled by plane = 2*60 = 120 km
For more on weighted averages method (which helps you solve orally), check:
http://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2011/03 ... -averages/
5 of 11 29-Mar-18, 7:28 AM
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dkj1984 Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] Jul 29, 2011 12:02 am
Intern
Thanks a lot Karishma!
you always put in weighted average approaches and make them look so simple !
Thanks for pointing the part I had overlooked.
Regards,
Joined: 28 Mar 2011

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VeritasPrepKarishma Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] Jul 29, 2011 10:29 am

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dkj1984 wrote:
Thanks a lot Karishma!
you always put in weighted average approaches and make them look so simple !
Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Thanks for pointing the part I had overlooked.
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That is because weighted averages has applications in almost all topics of Arithmetic. That is the reason I keep insisting that you should be
comfortable with this topic. It makes many other topics simpler.
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Bunuel Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] Jan 25, 2012 10:04 pm
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6 of 11 29-Mar-18, 7:28 AM
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Thanu1083 wrote:
sriharimurthy wrote:
macsin wrote:
Guys any luck with the images please? I am not able to view them Solution 2 onwards.
Hi,
Not quite sure what the problem might be.. I'm able to view the images. Anyone else facing this problem?
I am not able to view images from image 2. Please help.
Welcome to GMAT Club,
Someone on the forum noted that it might be because of the browser (some versions of IE). Try Firefox or Google Chrome. Or just try to reloading
a page several times... Maybe it was just one time error.
Hope it helps.
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galiya Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] Apr 12, 2012 2:58 pm
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Quote:
Example 1.
To qualify for a race, you need to average 60 mph driving two laps around a 1-mile long track. You have some sort of engine difficulty the first
lap so that you only average 30 mph during that lap; how fast do you have to drive the second lap to average 60 for both of them?
...
Quote:
Now, we know that the total time should be the sum of the times in row 1 and 2. Thus we can form the following equation :
Joined: 16 Jan 2011
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Time(3) = Time(1) + Time(2) ---> 1/30 = 1/30 + 1/x
Kudos [?]: 183 [0], given: 15
FOLLOW SEND PM From this, it becomes clear that '1/x' must be 0.
Since 'x' is the reciprocal of 0, which does not exist, there can be no speed for which the average can be made up in the second lap.
why can't i use w.averages formula here?
(30*1+X*1)/2=60 --> (30*1+X*1)=120 --> X=90 mph one needs to drive to average 60 mph after 2 laps
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VeritasPrepKarishma Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] Apr 12, 2012 7:41 pm
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Galiya wrote:
Quote:
Example 1.
To qualify for a race, you need to average 60 mph driving two laps around a 1-mile long track. You have some sort of engine difficulty the
Joined: 16 Oct 2010 first lap so that you only average 30 mph during that lap; how fast do you have to drive the second lap to average 60 for both of them?
Posts: 8005
Kudos [?]: 19207 [0], given: 238
Location: Pune, India ...
why can't i use w.averages formula here?
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(30*1+X*1)/2=60 --> (30*1+X*1)=120 --> X=90 mph one needs to drive to average 60 mph after 2 laps
Because in weighted average formula, the weights (w1 and w2) will be the time traveled, not the distance traveled.
Average Speed = Total Distance/Total Time
Average Speed = (Speed1*Time1 + Speed2*Time2)/(Time1 + Time2) (This is your weighted average formula)
What you are doing above is Average Speed = (Speed1*Distance1 + Speed2*Distance2)/(Distance1 + Distance2) which is incorrect.
Check out these two additional links to figure out how to know what weights to use:
7 of 11 29-Mar-18, 7:28 AM
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a-certain-car-traveled-twice-as-many-miles-from-town-a-127918.html?hilit=average%20speed%20time
if-a-car-traveled-from-townsend-to-smallville-at-an-average-122843.html?hilit=average%20speed%20time
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jsphcal Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] Apr 29, 2012 1:12 am
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Now if speed of the current is 3 mph, then the speed of the boat while going downstream and upstream will be 'b + 3' and 'b - 3' respectively.
could you please elaborate more on the + 3 and -3 respectively?
instead of upstream and downstream we could have used with current and against current?
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VeritasPrepKarishma Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] Apr 29, 2012 7:23 pm
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jsphcal wrote:
Now if speed of the current is 3 mph, then the speed of the boat while going downstream and upstream will be 'b + 3' and 'b - 3' respectively.
could you please elaborate more on the + 3 and -3 respectively?

Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Posts: 8005 instead of upstream and downstream we could have used with current and against current?
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Yes, downstream means 'with current' and upstream means 'against current'.
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Bunuel Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] May 01, 2012 2:46 am
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kudos +1 to Sriharimurgthy!
Can somebody point to more GOOD distance problems.
Joined: 03 Sep 2009 thanks a lot!!

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Check our question banks: viewforumtags.php
DS Distance/Rate Problems: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=44

PS Distance/Rate Problems: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=64
Hope it helps.
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TheNona Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] Apr 08, 2013 7:32 pm
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Thanks for the great explanation ... but can you please clarify more about example 5 ? Thanks in advance
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Bunuel Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] Apr 08, 2013 8:36 pm
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TheNona wrote:
Thanks for the great explanation ... but can you please clarify more about example 5 ? Thanks in advance
Check here: a-boat-travels-for-three-hours-with-a-current-of-3-mph-and-8318.html and here:

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Bunuel Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] Jul 11, 2013 1:40 pm
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Bumping for review*.
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All Theory Topics: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=351

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gunna Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] May 22, 2014 12:57 am
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Hi bunnuel,
9 of 11 29-Mar-18, 7:28 AM
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I have a question regarding question nr 2:
Why isnt it possible to solve it thru a "average speed method"?

I have just tried to solve it this way: Total Hours 3 by a distance of 150 miles, so average speed must be 50.
(x / 150 * 60)+(150-x/150 * 30) = 50 (Average Speed)
Joined: 16 Mar 2014 x = 100, which is definitely not correct.

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Last edited by gunna on May 22, 2014 12:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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rajatjain14 Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] May 22, 2014 2:21 am
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Hi gunna,
A very interesting doubt.
Average speed divides in the ratio of the time traveled (not distance traveled).
Average Speed = where T1 & V1 are time taken and speed respectively for first distance (accordingly for V2 and T2)
Joined: 20 May 2014

Let T is time to cover first distance, therefore 3-T is time to cover the second distance (As total time is 3 hrs)
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= 50 (Average Speed)
Location: India
Schools: IIMC
Therefore, T = 1 hr
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So, T2 = 3-1 = 2hrs
Therefore, distance from the airport to the corporate office = 60*2 = 120 miles
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gunna Re: 'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy [#permalink] May 22, 2014 12:32 pm
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Hi rajatjain14.
Thanks for your prompt reply.
Ok - so basically I have just the wrong "base". I should have taken the totally hours and not the total distance (which is easier anyways).
I got it, thank you
Joined: 16 Mar 2014

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Time' Word Problems Made Easy - Quantitative

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'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy : Quantitative https://gmatclub.com/forum/distance-speed-time-word-problems-made...

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'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy

TAGS: Theory Find Similar Topics

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'Distance/Speed/Time' Word Problems Made Easy

created by: sriharimurthy

What is a ‘D/S/T’ Word Problem?

The ‘D/S/T’ Formula: Distance = Speed x Time

So what’s the concept? Lets find out!

All calculations depend on AVERAGE SPEED.

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Eg.1.png [ 17.55 KiB | Viewed 727480 times ]

Time(1) = Distance(1)/Speed(1) = 1/30

TAGS: Theory Find Similar Topics

Time(2) = Distance(2)/Speed(2) = 1/x

Time(3) = Distance(3)/Speed(3) = 2/60 = 1/30

Time(3) = Time(1) + Time(2) ---> 1/30 = 1/30 + 1/x

From this, it becomes clear that '1/x' must be 0.

Thus, the distance he spent driving will be '150 - x'

Time(1) = Distance(1)/Speed(1) = (150 - x)/30

Time(2) = Distance(2)/Speed(2) = x/60

From the first row, we can form the following equation :

Distance(1) = Speed(1) * Time(1) = x*3

Distance(2) = Speed(2) * Time(2) = (x - 20)*5

3*x = 5*(x - 20) --> x = 50 mph.

Distance(1) = Speed(1) * Time(1) = 14*t

Distance(2) = Speed(2) * Time(2) = 16*t

Distance(3) = Distance(1) + Distance(2) --> 45 = 14*t + 16*t --> t = 1.5 hours

Distance(1) = Speed(1) * Time(1) = (b + 3)*3

TAGS: Theory Find Similar Topics

Distance(2) = Speed(2) * Time(2) = (b - 3)*4

Distance(1) = Distance(2) --> (b + 3)*3 = (b - 3)*4 --> b = 21 mph.

DS Distance/Rate Problems to practice: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=44

Word Problems Made Easy!

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Could you please guide me in solving this problem.

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Please, post the new questions in a separate thread.

Above question was discussed here: test-m08-question-n18-88723.html?hilit=cycling

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TAGS: Theory Find Similar Topics

1) Calculate the total speed for one cyclist standing still:

2) Calculate the total time when Distance is finished:

45m / 30mph = 1.5h

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Average speed is always Total Distance/Total Time.

Now there are two ways to handle it:

Weighted Averages Method:

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Thanks for pointing the part I had overlooked.

Joined: 28 Mar 2011

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3x = 5(x - 20) --> x = 50 mph.

Distance(3) = Distance(1) + Distance(2) --> 45 = 14t + 16t --> t = 1.5 hours

Distance(1) = Distance(2) --> (b + 3)3 = (b - 3)4 --> b = 21 mph.