Quantitative Aptitude

Time, Speed and Distance

2,165 Questions
All Core formulas and unit conversion 441 Boats and streams effective speed 396 Relative speed, meetings, and overtaking 375 Average speed 362 Early and late arrival 321 Proportional relationships 202 Stoppage time per hour 35 Train and stationary or moving object crossing 17 Races and dead heats 16

Time, Speed and Distance Questions

Multiple choice general knowledge math & puzzles

The engine of a 200 meters long tarin reaches one end of a 500 meters long platform at 4:00 pm. The train stops at the platform for 30 minutes. If the train starts from the platform at 70 KMPH, then what will be the time when the train completely crosses the platform?

  1. 4:30:35 pm

  2. 4:30:34 pm

  3. 4:30:36 pm

  4. 4:30:37 pm
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

To completely cross the platform, the train must cover the platform length (500m) plus its own length (200m) = 700m total distance. Speed = 70 km/h = 70 × (1000/3600) = 19.444 m/s. Time = 700/19.444 = 36.066 seconds. Adding 30 min stop + 36 sec to 4:00 pm gives 4:30:36 pm.

Multiple choice general knowledge math & puzzles

Two trains A and B are moving in opposite directions with speeds of 40 km/h and 60 km/h respectively. The distance between the two trains is 50 kms. At what point the two trains meet?

  1. At a point 30km from A

  2. At a point 20km from A

  3. At a point 20 km from B

  4. At a point 25 km from A
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The trains close the 50km gap at a combined speed of 100 km/h, taking 30 minutes. In 30 minutes, Train A (at 40 km/h) covers exactly 20 km.

Multiple choice general knowledge math & puzzles

A train leaves Calcutta for Mumbai, a distance of 1600 kms at the same time a train leaves Mumbai to Calcutta. The trains meet at Nagpur which is at a distance of 700 kms from Mumbai. What is the ratio of the speeds of the trains?

  1. 16:20

  2. 4:5

  3. 2:3

  4. 9:7
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Total distance is 1600 km. Nagpur is 700 km from Mumbai, so the Mumbai train traveled 700 km and the Calcutta train traveled 900 km in the same time. Their speed ratio is therefore 900:7 = 9:7, matching option D. The other ratios do not reflect these distances.

Multiple choice general knowledge math & puzzles

A thief is spotted by a policeman from a distance of 200 m. When the policeman starts a chase, the thief starts running. Speed of thief is 10 Kmph and that of policeman is 12 kmph. After how many hours will the policeman catch the thief?

  1. 6 min

  2. 8 min

  3. 20 min

  4. 4 min
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The relative speed is 12 - 10 = 2 kmph, which is 2000 m per 60 min = 100/3 m per min. To close a 200 m gap takes 200 / (100/3) = 6 minutes, matching option A. The question asks 'after how many hours' but the options are in minutes; the intended answer is 6 min.

Multiple choice general knowledge math & puzzles

A and B started moving simultaneously from P towards Q and their respective speeds are 36 kmph and 15 m/s respectively. What is the distance between them after moving for 2 minutes after starting from P?

  1. 200 m

  2. 600 m

  3. 1000 m

  4. 400 m
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Convert A's speed: 36 kmph = 10 m/s, while B is 15 m/s. After 2 minutes (120 s), A covers 10 x 120 = 1200 m and B covers 15 x 120 = 1800 m. The gap is 1800 - 1200 = 600 m, matching option B.

Multiple choice general knowledge math & puzzles

Two friends A and B are moving towards Q and P respectively from P and Q respectively. The distance between P and Q is 600 m and the speeds of the friends, A and B are 6 m/s and 8 m/s respectively. How much time after A starts for P, does B have to start for Q so that they meet at the exact midpoint of P and Q?

  1. 11 sec

  2. 10.5 sec

  3. 15 sec

  4. 12.5 sec
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The midpoint is 300 m from each end. A takes 300/6 = 50 s to reach it, while B takes 300/8 = 37.5 s. For them to meet there, B must start 50 - 37.5 = 12.5 s after A. This matches option D.

Multiple choice general knowledge math & puzzles

Speed of a boat in standing water is 9 kmph and the speed of the stream is 1.5 kmph. A man rows to a place at a distance of 105 km and comes back to the starting point. The total time taken by him is:

  1. 16 hours

  2. 18 hours

  3. 20 hours

  4. 24 hours
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Downstream speed = 9 + 1.5 = 10.5 kmph. Upstream speed = 9 - 1.5 = 7.5 kmph. Time taken = (105 / 10.5) + (105 / 7.5) = 10 + 14 = 24 hours. Other options are mathematically inconsistent with the provided speeds and distance.

Multiple choice general knowledge math & puzzles

Ashish travels a distance of 100 km in the following manner, at 20 kmph for the 1st 50 kms, at 25 kmph for the next 50 kms. He returns at a constant speed of 25kmph. What was his average speed for the journey?

  1. 22.5

  2. 23.52

  3. 24.6

  4. 22.35
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Forward journey: 50 km at 20 kmph = 2.5 hours, 50 km at 25 kmph = 2 hours. Total forward time = 4.5 hours. Return journey: 100 km at 25 kmph = 4 hours. Total distance = 200 km, total time = 8.5 hours. Average speed = 200/8.5 = 23.52 kmph. Average speed is always total distance divided by total time, not the average of individual speeds.

Multiple choice general knowledge

Bob and Tom started a journey from their home at the same time. Bob drives his car with a speed of 60 km/h and Tom goes with a speed of 37.2822715 miles per hour? Bob reaches his destination at 6 a.m. in the morning. At what time should we expect Tom to reach? (Note : assume that it's an ideal situation without any traffic and other hindrances.)

  1. 5.30 am

  2. 6 am

  3. 6.30

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Tom's speed of 37.2822715 mph converts to exactly 60 km/h (since 1 mile ≈ 1.609 km). Both Bob and Tom travel at the same speed of 60 km/h from the same starting point at the same time. Therefore, they will reach the destination at the same time - 6 a.m.

Multiple choice general knowledge math & puzzles

40 % of journey is covered in 20 minutes and 60% in 40 minutes. Average speed for full journey is ________ if distance is 120 kms.

  1. 120km per hour

  2. 40 KM per four

  3. 60 km per hour

  4. 50 km per hour
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Total distance is 120 km. Total time is 20 + 40 = 60 minutes (1 hour). Average speed = Total Distance / Total Time = 120 km / 1 hour = 120 km/hr. Other options like 60 or 40 do not account for the total journey time.

Multiple choice general knowledge math & puzzles

A and B move along a circular track from the same starting point and at the same time. When they meet for the first time, what is the difference between the distance traversed by A and B? (A) The length of the track is 1200 meters. (B) Relative speed is 1m/s and individual speeds are natural numbers.

  1. The question can be answered by one statement alone but not by the other statement

  2. The question can be answered by either statements individually

  3. The question can be answered by taking both statements together

  4. The question cannot be answered
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Statement A alone: Cannot determine distance difference without knowing speeds. Statement B alone: Cannot determine distance difference without knowing track length. Together: They meet when time = distance/relative speed = 1200/1 = 1200s. Distance traversed by A = 1200v_A, by B = 1200v_B. Since speeds are natural numbers with v_A - v_B = 1, we need more information to determine individual speeds. Both statements together are insufficient.

Multiple choice general knowledge math & puzzles

if i travel half my distance at 40kmph and the other half at 60 kmph whats my average speed for the whole journey

  1. 50kmph

  2. 45kmph

  3. 53kmph

  4. 48kmph
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

For equal distances, average speed is the harmonic mean, not arithmetic mean. Total distance = 2d. Time for first half = d/40, time for second half = d/60. Total time = d/40 + d/60 = 5d/120. Average speed = 2d / (5d/120) = 240/5 = 48 kmph. The arithmetic mean (50 kmph) is incorrect.