Speed, distance, and time are three of the most important basics in mathematics and day-to-day life. These formulas help you understand how fast something moves, how far it travels, or how long it takes to reach a place. Whether it's solving aptitude questions, planning a journey, or understanding motion in physics, these formulas are simple but extremely useful. If you know any two of the three values, you can easily calculate the third.
Speed, Distance, and Time Formula Overview
| Formula | Variables | When It Is Used |
|---|---|---|
| Speed = Distance ÷ Time | Speed → how fast | To find actual or average speed |
| Distance = Speed × Time | Distance → length covered | For travel, journey, and physics problems |
| Time = Distance ÷ Speed | Time → duration taken | To calculate time of travel |
What is Speed, Distance, and Time in Maths?
Speed, distance, and time are connected through a simple mathematical relationship. These three quantities form a triangle relationship — if any two are known, the third can be found easily. These formulas are widely used in transportation, science, competitive exams, and everyday life.
1. Speed
Speed tells us how fast an object is moving.
Formula: Speed = Distance ÷ Time
Units: km/h, m/s
Example: If a car travels 100 km in 2 hours,
Speed = 100 ÷ 2 = 50 km/h
2. Distance
Distance is the total length of the path travelled.
Formula: Distance = Speed × Time
Units: km, m
Example: A bike moves at 60 km/h for 3 hours,
Distance = 60 × 3 = 180 km
3. Time
Time is the duration taken to cover a distance at a given speed.
Formula: Time = Distance ÷ Speed
Units: hours, minutes, seconds
Example: A bus covers 150 km at 50 km/h,
Time = 150 ÷ 50 = 3 hours
These three formulas follow a fixed pattern:
- To find speed, divide distance by time.
- To find distance, multiply speed and time.
- To find time, divide distance by speed.
They are used in real life for travel planning, train/flight schedules, athletic timing, and in exams like CUET, SSC, Banking, Railways, and JEE. Always ensure the units match (km & hours or m & seconds).
Solved Examples on Speed, Distance and Time
Example 1: A car travels 120 km in 2 hours. Find its speed.
Step 1: Speed = Distance ÷ Time
Step 2: Speed = 120 ÷ 2 = 60 km/h
So, the car’s speed is 60 km/h.
Example 2: A bus runs at 50 km/h for 4 hours. Find the distance covered.
Step 1: Distance = Speed × Time
Step 2: Distance = 50 × 4 = 200 km
So, the bus covers 200 km.
FAQs about Speed, Distance and Time Formula
Q1. How can I easily remember the formula?
Use the D-S-T triangle: D on top, S × T below.
Q2. Why are units important?
Because speed, distance, and time only work correctly when units match (km/h with hours or m/s with seconds).
Q3. In which exams are these formulas asked?
They appear in CUET, SSC, Banking, Railways, JEE, Defence, and school aptitude tests.
Q4. Can time ever be zero?
No. If time is zero, no distance is travelled and division by zero is impossible.