Linear Equations in Two Variables

Word Problems
Relation between Distance, Time & Speed

S= __
D __ __ __
D
T=
T × S

D = S ×T
 Practice set 1.5
(6) Out of 1900 km, Vishal travelled some distance by bus and
some by aeroplane. Bus travels with an average speed 60
km/hr and the average speed of aeroplane is 700 km/hr. It
takes 5 hours to complete the journey. Find the distance,
Solution
Vishal travelled by bus.
Let the distance travelled by bus be x km and
the distance travelled by aeroplane be y km
The total distance travelled = 1900 km
 x + y = 1900 ……………. (I)
𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
We know that : time =
𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝
𝑥
Time taken for bus journey at 60 km/hr = hrs
60
𝑦
time taken for air plane journey at 700 km/hr = hrs
700
Total time taken for the journey = 5 hrs
 Solution
Let the distance travelled by bus be x km and 35x + 3y = 10500 …(III
the distance travelled by aeroplane be y km 3x + 3y = 5700 … (II
– – –
The total distance travelled = 1900 km
32x = 4800
 x + y = 1900 ……………. (I) [Subtracting eqn (III) from (II)]
𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
We know that : time = 4800
𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝 x =
𝑥 32
Time taken for bus journey at 60 km/hr = hrs
60  x = 150
𝑦
time taken for air plane journey at 700 km/hr = hrs
700
Total time taken for the journey = 5 hrs
𝑥 𝑦  The distance Vishal
 + =5
60 700 travelled by bus is 150
Multiplying throughout by 2100 we get kms
 35x + 3y = 10500 ……………. (II)
Multiplying eqn (I) by 3 we get
 3x + 3y = 5700 ……………. (III)
 Problem set 1
(6) Places A and B are 30 km apart and they are on a straight
road. Hamid travels from A to B on bike. At the same time
Joseph starts from B on bike, travels towards A. They meet
each other after 20 minutes. If Joseph would have started
from B at the same time but in the opposite direction (instead
of towards A). Hamid would have caught him after 3 hours.
Find the speed of Hamid and Joseph.

A 30 km B

A 30 km B
Hamid and Joseph travel in same direction (away from A)

Time taken by them to meet each other = 3 hrs

Distance travelled by Hamid = x × 3 = 3x
Distance travelled by Joseph = y × 3 = 3y
Difference of the distances travelled = 30 km
 3x – 3y = 30
 x – y = 10 ……. (2)

3x
3y
Hameed Joseph

A 30 km B
 Let Hameed’s speed be x km/hr and
Joseph’s speed be y km/hr
Distance = Speed × Time
Hamid and Joseph travel towards each other
20 1
Time taken by them to meet each other = 20 mins = = hrs
60 3
1 𝑥
Distance travelled by Hamid = 𝑥 × =
3 3
1 𝑦
Distance travelled by Joseph = 𝑦 × =
3 3
Total distance travelled = 30 km
𝑥 𝑦
 + = 30
3 3
 x + y = 90 ………… (1)

𝑥 𝑦
Hameed Joseph
3 3

A 30 km B
Hamid and Joseph travel in same direction (away from A)

Time taken by them to meet each other = 3 hrs

Distance travelled by Hamid = x × 3 = 3x
Distance travelled by Joseph = y × 3 = 3y
Difference of the distances travelled = 30 km
 3x – 3y = 30
 x – y = 10 ……. (2)
Adding equation (1) and (2) we get
x + y = 90 (1)
x – y = 10 (2) Ans :
Hamid’s speed = 50 km/hr
2x = 100 Joseph’s speed = 40 km/hr
 x = 50
Putting x = 50 in eqn (1) we get
50 + y = 90
y = 40