Time Speed and Distance aptitude questions
Time Speed and Distance questions are part of the Quant section of placement aptitude tests. Keep distance, speed, and time in matching units before using the relation. Below are 5 worked examples with the answer and the working; practise ten fresh ones or take a timed mock when you are ready.
Example 1. A car travels the first half of a journey at 30 km/h and the second half at 90 km/h. What is its average speed for the whole journey?
- A. 60 km/h
- B. 45 km/h (answer)
- C. 22.5 km/h
- D. 120 km/h
For equal distances the average speed is the harmonic mean: 2xy/(x + y) = 2 * 30 * 90/(30 + 90) = 45 km/h.
Example 2. A bus covers 80 km in 2 hours. What is its speed?
- A. 40 km/h (answer)
- B. 26.7 km/h
- C. 42 km/h
- D. 80 km/h
Speed = distance / time = 80/2 = 40 km/h.
Example 3. A 240 m long train crosses a pole in 12 seconds. What is its speed?
- A. 72 km/h (answer)
- B. 5.6 km/h
- C. 144 km/h
- D. 20 km/h
Crossing a pole covers the train's own length, so speed = 240/12 = 20 m/s. Convert to km/h by multiplying by 18/5: 20 * 18/5 = 72 km/h.
Example 4. A 190 m long train crosses a pole in 19 seconds. What is its speed?
- A. 36 km/h (answer)
- B. 2.8 km/h
- C. 10 km/h
- D. 72 km/h
Crossing a pole covers the train's own length, so speed = 190/19 = 10 m/s. Convert to km/h by multiplying by 18/5: 10 * 18/5 = 36 km/h.
Example 5. A bus covers 200 km in 5 hours. What is its speed?
- A. 45 km/h
- B. 40 km/h (answer)
- C. 200 km/h
- D. 33.3 km/h
Speed = distance / time = 200/5 = 40 km/h.
More Quant practice elsewhere: IndiaBIX, GeeksforGeeks. See the 60-day aptitude plan.