8.

8 Rate Word Problems: Speed,

Distance and Time
Distance, rate and time problems are a standard application of linear equations. When solving
these problems, use the relationship rate (speed or velocity) times time equals distance.
r⋅t=dr⋅t=d
For example, suppose a person were to travel 30 km/h for 4 h. To find the total distance, multiply
rate times time or (30km/h)(4h) = 120 km.

The problems to be solved here will have a few more steps than described above. So to keep the
information in the problem organized, use a table. An example of the basic structure of the table
is below:

Example of a Distance, Rate and Time Chart

Who or What Rate Time Distance

The third column, distance, will always be filled in by multiplying the rate and time columns
together. If given a total distance of both persons or trips, put this information in the distance
column. Now use this table to set up and solve the following examples.
Example 8.8.1
Joey and Natasha start from the same point and walk in opposite directions. Joey walks 2 km/h faster than
Natasha. After 3 hours, they are 30 kilometres apart. How fast did each walk?

Who or What Rate Time Distance

Natasha rr 3 h3 h 3 h(r)3 h(r)

Joey r+2r+2 3 h3 h 3 h(r+2)3 h(r+2)

The distance travelled by both is 30 km. Therefore, the equation to be solved is:
3r+3(r+2)=303r+3r+6=30−6−66r6=246r=4 km/
h3r+3(r+2)=303r+3r+6=30−6−66r6=246r=4 km/h
This means that Natasha walks at 4 km/h and Joey walks at 6 km/h.
Example 8.8.2
Nick and Chloe left their campsite by canoe and paddled downstream at an average speed of 12 km/h.
They turned around and paddled back upstream at an average rate of 4 km/h. The total trip took 1 hour.
After how much time did the campers turn around downstream?

Who or What Rate Time Distance

Downstream 12 km/h12 km/h tt 12 km/h (t)12 km/h (t)

Upstream 4 km/h4 km/h (1−t)(1−t) 4 km/h (1−t)4 km/h (1−

The distance travelled downstream is the same distance that they travelled upstream. Therefore, the
equation to be solved is:
12(t)=4(1−t)12t=4−4t+4t+4t16t16=416t=0.2512(t)=4(1−t)12t=4−4t+4t
+4t16t16=416t=0.25
This means the campers paddled downstream for 0.25 h and spent 0.75 h paddling back.
Example 8.8.3
Terry leaves his house riding a bike at 20 km/h. Sally leaves 6 h later on a scooter to catch up with him
travelling at 80 km/h. How long will it take her to catch up with him?

Who or What Rate Time Distance

Terry 20 km/h20 km/h tt 20 km/h (t)20 km/h (t)

Sally 80 km/h80 km/h (t−6 h)(t−6 h) 80 km/h (t−6 h)80 km/h (

The distance travelled by both is the same. Therefore, the equation to be solved is:
20(t)=80(t−6)20t=80t−480−80t−80t−60t−60=−480−60t=820(t)=8
0(t−6)20t=80t−480−80t−80t−60t−60=−480−60t=8
This means that Terry travels for 8 h and Sally only needs 2 h to catch up to him.
Example 8.8.4
On a 130-kilometre trip, a car travelled at an average speed of 55 km/h and then reduced its speed to 40
km/h for the remainder of the trip. The trip took 2.5 h. For how long did the car travel 40 km/h?
 Who or What Rate Time Distance

Fifty-five 55 km/h55 km/h tt 55 km/h (t)55 km/h (t)

Forty 40 km/h40 km/h (2.5 h−t)(2.5 h−t) 40 km/h (2.5 h−t)40 km/h (2.5 h−t
The distance travelled by both is 30 km. Therefore, the equation to be solved is:
55(t)
+40(2.5−t)=13055t+100−40t=130−100−10015t15=3015t=255(t)
+40(2.5−t)=13055t+100−40t=130−100−10015t15=3015t=2
This means that the time spent travelling at 40 km/h was 0.5 h.

Distance, time and rate problems have a few variations that mix the unknowns between distance,
rate and time. They generally involve solving a problem that uses the combined distance
travelled to equal some distance or a problem in which the distances travelled by both parties is
the same. These distance, rate and time problems will be revisited later on in this textbook where
quadratic solutions are required to solve them.

Questions

For Questions 1 to 8, find the equations needed to solve the problems. Do not solve.

1. A is 60 kilometres from B. An automobile at A starts for B at the rate of 20 km/h at the

same time that an automobile at B starts for A at the rate of 25 km/h. How long will it be
before the automobiles meet?
2. Two automobiles are 276 kilometres apart and start to travel toward each other at the
same time. They travel at rates differing by 5 km/h. If they meet after 6 h, find the rate of
each.

3. Two trains starting at the same station head in opposite directions. They travel at the rates
of 25 and 40 km/h, respectively. If they start at the same time, how soon will they be 195
kilometres apart?

4. Two bike messengers, Jerry and Susan, ride in opposite directions. If Jerry rides at the
rate of 20 km/h, at what rate must Susan ride if they are 150 kilometres apart in 5 hours?
 5. A passenger and a freight train start toward each other at the same time from two points
300 kilometres apart. If the rate of the passenger train exceeds the rate of the freight train
by 15 km/h, and they meet after 4 hours, what must the rate of each be?

6. Two automobiles started travelling in opposite directions at the same time from the same
point. Their rates were 25 and 35 km/h, respectively. After how many hours were they
180 kilometres apart?

7. A man having ten hours at his disposal made an excursion by bike, riding out at the rate
of 10 km/h and returning on foot at the rate of 3 km/h. Find the distance he rode.

8. A man walks at the rate of 4 km/h. How far can he walk into the country and ride back on
a trolley that travels at the rate of 20 km/h, if he must be back home 3 hours from the
time he started?

Solve Questions 9 to 22.

9. A boy rides away from home in an automobile at the rate of 28 km/h and walks back at
the rate of 4 km/h. The round trip requires 2 hours. How far does he ride?
10. A motorboat leaves a harbour and travels at an average speed of 15 km/h toward an
island. The average speed on the return trip was 10 km/h. How far was the island from
the harbour if the trip took a total of 5 hours?

11. A family drove to a resort at an average speed of 30 km/h and later returned over the
same road at an average speed of 50 km/h. Find the distance to the resort if the total
driving time was 8 hours.

12. As part of his flight training, a student pilot was required to fly to an airport and then
return. The average speed to the airport was 90 km/h, and the average speed returning
was 120 km/h. Find the distance between the two airports if the total flying time was 7
hours.

13. Sam starts travelling at 4 km/h from a campsite 2 hours ahead of Sue, who travels 6 km/h
in the same direction. How many hours will it take for Sue to catch up to Sam?

14. A man travels 5 km/h. After travelling for 6 hours, another man starts at the same place
as the first man did, following at the rate of 8 km/h. When will the second man overtake
the first?
 15. A motorboat leaves a harbour and travels at an average speed of 8 km/h toward a small
island. Two hours later, a cabin cruiser leaves the same harbour and travels at an average
speed of 16 km/h toward the same island. How many hours after the cabin cruiser leaves
will it be alongside the motorboat?

16. A long distance runner started on a course, running at an average speed of 6 km/h. One
hour later, a second runner began the same course at an average speed of 8 km/h. How
long after the second runner started will they overtake the first runner?

17. Two men are travelling in opposite directions at the rate of 20 and 30 km/h at the same
time and from the same place. In how many hours will they be 300 kilometres apart?

18. Two trains start at the same time from the same place and travel in opposite directions. If
the rate of one is 6 km/h more than the rate of the other and they are 168 kilometres apart
at the end of 4 hours, what is the rate of each?

19. Two cyclists start from the same point and ride in opposite directions. One cyclist rides
twice as fast as the other. In three hours, they are 72 kilometres apart. Find the rate of
each cyclist.

20. Two small planes start from the same point and fly in opposite directions. The first plane
is flying 25 km/h slower than the second plane. In two hours, the planes are 430
kilometres apart. Find the rate of each plane.

21. On a 130-kilometre trip, a car travelled at an average speed of 55 km/h and then reduced
its speed to 40 km/h for the remainder of the trip. The trip took a total of 2.5 hours. For
how long did the car travel at 40 km/h?

22. Running at an average rate of 8 m/s, a sprinter ran to the end of a track and then jogged
back to the starting point at an average of 3 m/s. The sprinter took 55 s to run to the end
of the track and jog back. Find the length of the track.

Answer Key 8.8

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Answer Key 8.8
1.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

A 2020 tt 20t20t

B 2525 tt 25t25t
2. 20t+25t=6020t+25t=60

3.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

A1 rr 66 6r6r

A1 r+sr+s 66 6(r+s)6(
4. 6r+6(r+s)=2766r+6(r+s)=276

5.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

T1 2525 tt 25t25t
 T2 4040 tt 40t40t
6. 25t+40t=19525t+40t=195

7.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

J 2020 55 20(5)20(5

S rr 55 r(5)r(5)
8. 20(5)+5r=15020(5)+5r=150

9.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

P r+15r+15 44 4(r+15)4

F rr 44 4r4r
10. 4(r+15)+4r=3004(r+15)+4r=300

11.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

2525 tt 25t25t
A1
 A2 3535 tt 35t35t
12. 25t+35t=18025t+35t=180

13.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

Away 1010 tt 10(t)10(t)

Return 33 10−t10−t 3(10−t)3

14. 10t=3(10−t)10t=3(10−t)

15.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

w 44 tt 4t4t

r 2020 (3−t)(3−t) 20(3−t)2

16. 4t=20(3−t)4t=20(3−t)

17.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

 Away 2828 tt 28t28t

Back 44 2−t2−t 4(2−t)4(2

18. 28t=4(2−t)28t=8−4t+4t+4t32t32=832t=14d=rtd=28(14)d=7
km28t=4(2−t)28t=8−4t+4t+4t32t32=832t=14d=rtd=28(14)d=7 km

19.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

Leave 1515 tt 15t15t

Return 1010 5−t5−t 10(5−t)1

20. 15t=10(5−t)15t=50−10t+10t+10t25t25=5025t=2d=rtd=15(2
)d=30 km15t=10(5−t)15t=50−10t+10t+10t25t25=5025t=2d=rtd=15(2)d=30
km

21.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

To resort 3030 tt 30t30t

Return 5050 8−t8−t 50(8−t)5

22. 30t=50(8−t)30t=400−50t+50t+50t80t80=40080t=5d=rtd=3
0(5)d=150 km30t=50(8−t)30t=400−50t+50t+50t80t80=40080t=5d=rtd=30(
5)d=150 km

23.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

To airport 9090 tt 90t90t

Return 120120 7−t7−t 120(7−t

24. 90t=120(7−t)90t=840−120t+120t+120t210t210=840210t=4
d=rtd=90(4)d=360 km90t=120(7−t)90t=840−120t+120t+120t210t210=8
40210t=4d=rtd=90(4)d=360 km

25.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

Sam 44 tt 4t4t

Sue 66 t−2t−2 6(t−2)6(t

26. 4t=6(t−2)4t=6t−12−6t−6t−2t−2=−12−2t=6t−2=44t=6(t−2)4t
=6t−12−6t−6t−2t−2=−12−2t=6t−2=4

27.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

 M1 55 tt 5t5t

M2 88 t−6t−6 8(t−6)8(t
28. 5t=8(t−6)5t=8t−48−8t−8t−3t−3=−48−3t=16t−6=105t=8(t−6)
5t=8t−48−8t−8t−3t−3=−48−3t=16t−6=10

29.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

MB 88 tt 8t8t

CC 1616 t−2t−2 16(t−2)1

30. 8t=16(t−2)8t=16t−32−16t−16t−8t−8=−32−8t=4t−2=28t=16
(t−2)8t=16t−32−16t−16t−8t−8=−32−8t=4t−2=2

31.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

R1 66 tt 6t6t

R2 88 t−1t−1 8(t−1)8(
32. 6t=8(t−1)6t=8t−8−8t−8t−2t−2=−8−2t=4t−1=36t=8(t−1)6t=8t
−8−8t−8t−2t−2=−8−2t=4t−1=3

33.
 Who or What Rate Time Equation

M1 2020 tt 20t20t

M2 3030 tt 30t30t
34. 20t+30t=30050t50=30050t=620t+30t=30050t50=30050t=6

35.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

T1 rr 44 4r4r

T2 r+6r+6 44 4(r+6)4(
36. 4r+4(r+6)=1684r+4r+24=168−24−248r8=1448r=18r+6=24
4r+4(r+6)=1684r+4r+24=168−24−248r8=1448r=18r+6=24

37.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

C1 rr 33 3r3r

C2 2r2r 33 3(2r)3(2r
38. 3r+3(2r)=723r+6r=729r9=729r=8C1=8 km/hC2=16 km/
h3r+3(2r)=723r+6r=729r9=729r=8C1=8 km/hC2=16 km/h
39.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

P1 r−25r−25 22 2(r−25)2

P2 rr 22 2r2r
40. 2(r−25)+2r=4302r−50+2r=430+50+504r4=4804r=120P1=12
0−25=95P2=1202(r−25)+2r=4302r−50+2r=430+50+504r4=4804r=120P1
=120−25=95P2=120

41.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

S1 5555 tt 55t55t

S2 4040 2.5−t2.5−t 40(2.5−

42. 55t+40(2.5−t)=13055t+100−40t=130−100−10015t15=3015t
=255t+40(2.5−t)=13055t+100−40t=130−100−10015t15=3015t=2

43.

Who or What Rate Time Equation

To end 88 tt 8t8t
 Return 33 55−t55−t 3(55−t)3(55−t)
8t=3(55−t)8t=165−3t+3t+3t11t11=16511t=15d=r⋅td=8(15)d=12
0m