AFCAT 2026

Numerical Ability — Complete Study Module

TIME, DISTANCE & RACES

Trains | Boats & Streams | Races

3-4 Qs per paper 9-12 Marks weightage VERY HIGH priority

per paper (+3 each) topic

Part A — Basic Concepts Speed, Distance, Time

Part B — Trains Crossing pole, platform, other train

Part C — Boats & Streams Upstream, downstream, still water

Part D — Races Head start, dead heat, circular track

Part E — PYQ Collection 30+ questions from AFCAT 2014-2024

 PART A — Basic Concepts: Speed, Distance & Time

Start here. Everything else builds on this.

A1 — The Golden Triangle

Think of Speed, Distance and Time like 3 friends in a triangle. If you know any 2, you can always find the 3rd.

The 3 formulas you MUST know

Speed = Distance / Time
Distance = Speed x Time
Time = Distance / Speed

Easy Example Easy Example

A car travels 120 km in 2 hours. What is its speed?
A train goes at 80 km/h for 3 hours. How far does it g
Speed = 120 / 2 = 60 km/h (that's it!) Distance = 80 x 3 = 240 km (simple!)

A2 — Unit Conversions (Must Know!)

km/h to m/s and back

km/h → m/s : Multiply by 5/18
m/s → km/h : Multiply by 18/5
Example: 72 km/h = 72 x (5/18) = 20 m/s
Example: 15 m/s = 15 x (18/5) = 54 km/h
Quick trick: 18 km/h = 5 m/s (memorise this pair!)

A3 — Relative Speed (The Key Concept for Trains)

When two objects are moving, their RELATIVE speed is what matters. Think of it like this: if you are on a train going 60
km/h and another train passes you also going 60 km/h in the SAME direction — it looks STATIONARY to you. If it
comes from the OPPOSITE direction — it looks very fast!

Same direction Opposite direction

Relative speed = Big speed - Small speed Relative speed = Speed 1 + Speed 2
Train A = 80 km/h, Train B = 50 km/h Train A = 80 km/h, Train B = 50 km/h
Both going same way. Coming toward each other.
Relative speed = 80 - 50 = 30 km/h Relative speed = 80 + 50 = 130 km/h

A4 — Average Speed
Two cases — read carefully!
CASE 1: Same DISTANCE in two parts
Avg speed = 2ab / (a+b) where a, b = speeds
Example: Go at 40, return at 60 → Avg = 2x40x60 / (40+60) = 48 km/h
CASE 2: Same TIME in two parts
Avg speed = (a + b) / 2 (simple average)
Example: 1st hour at 40, 2nd hour at 60 → Avg = (40+60)/2 = 50 km/h
AFCAT TRAP: 'Go and come back' = same DISTANCE → use formula 2ab/(a+b)
 PART B — Trains

The most common AFCAT sub-type. 1-2 questions every paper.

B1 — The Core Idea

When a train crosses something, it has to travel its OWN LENGTH plus the length of whatever it's crossing. Think of it
like parking a car — you need space for the car ITSELF plus the object you're passing.

Four train situations

1. Train crosses a POLE or PERSON (no length of pole):
Distance = Length of train only
Time = Length of train / Speed of train
2. Train crosses a PLATFORM or BRIDGE:
Distance = Length of train + Length of platform
Time = (Train length + Platform length) / Train speed
3. Two trains going SAME direction:
Distance = Train1 length + Train2 length
Speed = Speed1 - Speed2 (relative speed)
4. Two trains coming OPPOSITE direction (toward each other):
Distance = Train1 length + Train2 length
Speed = Speed1 + Speed2 (relative speed)

B2 — Super Easy Examples

Q. A train 150 m long runs at 60 km/h. How long to cross a pole?

Step 1: Speed = 60 km/h = 60 x 5/18 = 50/3 m/s

Step 2: Distance = only train length = 150 m (pole has no length)
Step 3: Time = 150 / (50/3) = 150 x 3/50 = 9 seconds

Answer: 9 seconds

Q. A train 200 m long at 72 km/h. Time to cross a 300 m platform?

Step 1: Speed = 72 x 5/18 = 20 m/s

Step 2: Distance = 200 + 300 = 500 m (train + platform)
Step 3: Time = 500 / 20 = 25 seconds

Answer: 25 seconds

Q. Train A (150m, 80 km/h) and Train B (100m, 70 km/h) going SAME direction. Time to cross each other?

Step 1: Total distance = 150 + 100 = 250 m

Step 2: Relative speed = 80 - 70 = 10 km/h = 10 x 5/18 = 25/9 m/s
Step 3: Time = 250 / (25/9) = 250 x 9/25 = 90 seconds

Answer: 90 seconds
 Q. Train A (160m, 90 km/h) and Train B (140m, 54 km/h) coming TOWARD each other. Time to pass?

Step 1: Total distance = 160 + 140 = 300 m

Step 2: Relative speed = 90 + 54 = 144 km/h = 144 x 5/18 = 40 m/s
Step 3: Time = 300 / 40 = 7.5 seconds

Answer: 7.5 seconds

B3 — Finding Length or Speed of Train

Q. A train crosses a 200m bridge in 20 seconds and a pole in 10 seconds. Find the train's length and speed.

Step 1: Let train length = L

Step 2: Cross pole: L / speed = 10 ... (1)
Step 3: Cross bridge: (L + 200) / speed = 20 ... (2)
Step 4: Divide (2) by (1): (L+200)/L = 2 → L + 200 = 2L → L = 200 m
Step 5: Speed = 200/10 = 20 m/s = 20 x 18/5 = 72 km/h

Answer: Train length = 200 m, Speed = 72 km/h

Train Short Tricks — Save 30 seconds each

Trick 1: Man on train — relative speed = train speed +/- man speed
Same direction: subtract; Opposite direction: add (man has no length)
Trick 2: Convert km/h to m/s FIRST for all train problems
Trick 3: Two trains approaching — always ADD lengths, ADD speeds
Trick 4: Two trains same direction — always ADD lengths, SUBTRACT speeds
Trick 5: Pole/man = 0 length. Only train length matters.
 PART C — Boats & Streams

2-3 questions per paper. Super easy once you know the trick.

C1 — The Simple Idea

Imagine you're swimming in a river. When you swim WITH the current (downstream), it HELPS you — you go faster.
When you swim AGAINST the current (upstream), it FIGHTS you — you go slower. The river current adds or subtracts
from YOUR speed.

The 4 key formulas

Let u = speed of boat in still water
Let v = speed of current (stream)
Downstream speed = u + v (current helps)
Upstream speed = u - v (current fights)
Speed of boat (still water) = (Downstream + Upstream) / 2
Speed of current (stream) = (Downstream - Upstream) / 2

Easy way to remember: D = downstream, U = upstream. Boat speed = (D+U)/2 (like an average). Current speed =
(D-U)/2 (half the difference).

C2 — Easy Examples

Q. A boat goes 30 km downstream in 3 hours and 18 km upstream in 3 hours. Find speed of boat and stream.

Step 1: Downstream speed = 30/3 = 10 km/h

Step 2: Upstream speed = 18/3 = 6 km/h
Step 3: Speed of boat = (10 + 6) / 2 = 8 km/h
Step 4: Speed of stream = (10 - 6) / 2 = 2 km/h

Answer: Boat = 8 km/h, Stream = 2 km/h

Q. A person swims 2 km against the current in 1 hour and returns in 30 min. What is the speed of the current?

Step 1: Upstream speed = 2/1 = 2 km/h

Step 2: Downstream speed = 2/(0.5) = 4 km/h
Step 3: Speed of current = (4 - 2) / 2 = 1 km/h

Answer: Current speed = 1 km/h

Q. A boat travels upstream from B to A and downstream from A to B in 3 hours. Speed of boat in still water = 9 km/h,
speed of current = 3 km/h. Find distance AB.

Step 1: Downstream speed = 9 + 3 = 12 km/h

Step 2: Upstream speed = 9 - 3 = 6 km/h
Step 3: Let distance AB = d
Step 4: d/12 + d/6 = 3 → d/12 + 2d/12 = 3 → 3d/12 = 3
Step 5: d = 12 km

Answer: Distance AB = 12 km [AFCAT 2014 type]

C3 — Average Speed for Boats

Go and come back in a stream
A boat goes from A to B and returns to A.
Average speed = (D x U) x 2 / (D + U)
where D = downstream speed, U = upstream speed
This is the same formula as average speed for equal distance!
Example: D = 12, U = 6 → Avg = 2x12x6 / (12+6) = 144/18 = 8 km/h

Boats & Streams Short Tricks

Trick 1: Memorise D = u+v, U = u-v like D(elight)=u+v, U(gly)=u-v
Trick 2: Boat speed = (D+U)/2 — think 'average of both directions'
Trick 3: Stream speed = (D-U)/2 — think 'half the difference'
Trick 4: If problem says 'still water speed' and 'current speed', find D and U first
Trick 5: If boat goes x km upstream and same x km downstream, total time = x/U + x/D
 PART D — Races

Head start, dead heat, beats by distance/time — all exam types.

D1 — Race Language Made Simple

AFCAT Race terminology

Start = All runners begin at the same point at the same time
Dead heat = Both reach the finish at exactly the SAME time (it's a TIE)
A beats B by X metres = When A finishes, B is still X m behind the finish
A beats B by T seconds = A finishes T seconds BEFORE B
A gives B a start of X metres = B starts X m ahead; A starts from 0
A gives B a start of T seconds = B starts T seconds before A
Race of X metres = Total race distance is X metres

D2 — Key Race Formulas

Speed ratio from a race

In a race of X metres, A beats B by d metres:
When A runs X, B runs (X - d)
Speed ratio of A : B = X : (X - d)
In a race, if A gives B a start of d metres:
A runs X, B runs (X - d) in the SAME time
Speed ratio A : B = X : (X - d) [same formula!]
Circular track: A and B meet again when relative distance = track length

D3 — Easy Examples

Q. In a 100m race, A beats B by 10m. What is ratio of speeds of A and B?

Step 1: When A runs 100m, B runs only 90m (10m behind)

Step 2: Speed ratio A : B = 100 : 90 = 10 : 9

Answer: A : B = 10 : 9

Q. In a 500m race, A beats B by 20m and C by 50m. By how much does B beat C in a 500m race?

Step 1: When A runs 500: B runs 480, C runs 450

Step 2: When B runs 500: C runs 500 x (450/480) = 468.75 m
Step 3: B beats C by = 500 - 468.75 = 31.25 m

Answer: B beats C by 31.25 m

Q. A and B run a 1000m race. A gives B a start of 100m. A's speed = 10 m/s, B's speed = 8 m/s. Who wins?

Step 1: B only needs to run 900m (100m head start)

Step 2: Time for A to finish = 1000/10 = 100 seconds
Step 3: Distance B covers in 100s = 8 x 100 = 800m
Step 4: B needed 900m but only covered 800m. A WINS by 100m

Answer: A wins by 100 m

Q. Two persons A and B run around a circular track of 400m. A takes 40s and B takes 50s per round. When will they
meet again at the starting point?

Step 1: They meet at start when both complete whole numbers of rounds simultaneously
Step 2: A completes a round every 40s, B every 50s
Step 3: LCM of 40 and 50 = 200 seconds

Answer: After 200 seconds

Race Short Tricks

Trick 1: Ratio of speeds = Ratio of distances (in same time)
Trick 2: 'A beats B by x m in Y m race' → ratio = Y : (Y-x)
Trick 3: Circular track same direction → meet when faster covers 1 extra round
Time to meet = Track length / (Speed A - Speed B)
Trick 4: Circular track opposite direction → meet when combined = 1 round
Time to meet = Track length / (Speed A + Speed B)
Trick 5: 3-person race — use chain rule of ratios
 MASTER FORMULA SHEET

Everything on one page — revise daily!

Topic Formula Remember as

Basic S=D/T, D=SxT, T=D/S SDT triangle

Unit km/h x 5/18 = m/s Divide by 3.6

Unit m/s x 18/5 = km/h Multiply by 3.6

Relative speed (same dir) S1 - S2 Subtract

Relative speed (opp dir) S1 + S2 Add

Avg speed (equal dist) 2ab/(a+b) Harmonic mean

Avg speed (equal time) (a+b)/2 Arithmetic mean

Train cross pole Time = Train length / Speed Pole = 0 length

Train cross platform (Train + Platform) / Speed Add both lengths

Two trains (opp) (L1+L2) / (S1+S2) Add everything

Two trains (same) (L1+L2) / (S1-S2) Add len, sub speed

Downstream D=u+v Current helps

Upstream U=u-v Current fights

Boat still water u = (D+U)/2 Average

Stream speed v = (D-U)/2 Half difference

Race: A beats B by d Speed ratio = X : (X-d) Full race : what B ran

Circular: same dir Meet at = L/(S1-S2) Relative speed

Circular: opp dir Meet at = L/(S1+S2) Combined speed

TOP 5 AFCAT TRAPS in this chapter

TRAP 1: Always convert km/h to m/s for train problems (x 5/18)
TRAP 2: 'Go and come back' = EQUAL DISTANCE → use 2ab/(a+b), NOT simple average
TRAP 3: Two trains SAME direction → SUBTRACT speeds, OPPOSITE → ADD speeds
TRAP 4: Man standing still = pole (0 length). Man running = use relative speed
TRAP 5: In races, 'gives a start of x m' → faster runner runs MORE distance in same time
 PART E — AFCAT Previous Year Questions

30+ questions from 2014-2024 | All with solutions | Trains | Boats | Races

Note: AFCAT does not release official papers. Questions compiled from memory-based papers (SSBCrack, Testbook, Adda247,
Doorsteptutor) and candidate feedback 2014-2024.

PYQ Section 1 — Trains

A train 150 m long is running with a speed of 68 km/h. In what time will it pass a man running at 8 km/h AFCAT
in the same direction? 2014

(A) 9 sec (B) 10 sec

(C) 91 sec (D) 18 sec

SOLUTION
Step 1: Speed of train relative to man = 68 - 8 = 60 km/h (same direction, subtract)
Step 2: Convert: 60 x 5/18 = 50/3 m/s
Step 3: Distance = only train length = 150 m (man has no length)
Step 4: Time = 150 / (50/3) = 150 x 3/50 = 9 sec... recalc: 60 km/h = 100/6 m/s = 50/3 m/s
Step 5: Time = 150 / (50/3) = 9 sec [Note: Some AFCAT versions give 9s, check options
carefully]

Ans: 9 seconds

Two trains of length 100m and 150m are travelling in opposite directions at 60 km/h and 90 km/h. How AFCAT
long will they take to cross each other? 2016

(A) 4.8 sec (B) 6 sec

(C) 5.5 sec (D) 7.2 sec

SOLUTION
Step 1: Total length = 100 + 150 = 250 m
Step 2: Relative speed (opposite direction) = 60 + 90 = 150 km/h
Step 3: Convert: 150 x 5/18 = 125/3 m/s
Step 4: Time = 250 / (125/3) = 250 x 3/125 = 6 seconds

Ans: 6 seconds

AFCAT
A train 280 m long is moving at 60 km/h. Time taken by the train to cross a platform 220 m long?
2017

(A) 25 sec (B) 30 sec

(C) 35 sec (D) 20 sec

SOLUTION
Step 1: Total distance = 280 + 220 = 500 m
Step 2: Speed = 60 km/h = 60 x 5/18 = 50/3 m/s
Step 3: Time = 500 / (50/3) = 500 x 3/50 = 30 seconds

Ans: 30 seconds
A train passes a 50m platform in 14 seconds and a man standing on it in 10 seconds. What is the AFCAT
speed of the train? 2018

(A) 15 m/s (B) 12.5 m/s

(C) 10 m/s (D) 20 m/s

SOLUTION
Step 1: Let train length = L
Step 2: Cross man (no length): L / speed = 10 → L = 10 x speed
Step 3: Cross platform: (L + 50) / speed = 14
Step 4: Substitute: (10*speed + 50) / speed = 14 → 10 + 50/speed = 14
Step 5: 50/speed = 4 → speed = 12.5 m/s

Ans: 12.5 m/s (= 45 km/h)

Two trains 120m and 80m long are running in the same direction at 90 km/h and 70 km/h. How long will AFCAT
the faster train take to cross the slower one? 2019

(A) 36 sec (B) 72 sec

(C) 18 sec (D) 45 sec

SOLUTION
Step 1: Total length = 120 + 80 = 200 m
Step 2: Relative speed = 90 - 70 = 20 km/h = 20 x 5/18 = 50/9 m/s
Step 3: Time = 200 / (50/9) = 200 x 9/50 = 36 seconds

Ans: 36 seconds

AFCAT
A 200m long train crosses a pole in 10 seconds. How long will it take to cross a 600m long platform?
2020

(A) 30 sec (B) 35 sec

(C) 40 sec (D) 50 sec

SOLUTION
Step 1: Speed = 200/10 = 20 m/s
Step 2: Distance = 200 + 600 = 800 m
Step 3: Time = 800/20 = 40 seconds

Ans: 40 seconds
Train A 100m long moves at 90 km/h. Train B 150m long coming from opposite direction at 60 km/h. AFCAT
Find time for them to completely pass each other. 2022

(A) 4 sec (B) 6 sec

(C) 8 sec (D) 10 sec

SOLUTION
Step 1: Total distance = 100 + 150 = 250 m
Step 2: Relative speed = 90 + 60 = 150 km/h = 150 x 5/18 = 125/3 m/s
Step 3: Time = 250 / (125/3) = 750/125 = 6 seconds

Ans: 6 seconds
PYQ Section 2 — Boats & Streams

A boat travels upstream from B to A and downstream from A to B in 3 hours. Speed of boat in still water AFCAT
= 9 km/h, speed of current = 3 km/h. Find distance AB. 2014

(A) 9 km (B) 10 km

(C) 12 km (D) 15 km

SOLUTION
Step 1: Downstream speed = 9 + 3 = 12 km/h; Upstream speed = 9 - 3 = 6 km/h
Step 2: Time equation: d/12 + d/6 = 3
Step 3: d/12 + 2d/12 = 3 → 3d/12 = 3 → d = 12 km

Ans: 12 km

A streamer moves at 4.5 km/h in still water and goes upstream and returns. River flows at 1.5 km/h. AFCAT
Find average speed for total journey. 2014

(A) 3.75 km/h (B) 4 km/h

(C) 4.5 km/h (D) 3 km/h

SOLUTION
Step 1: Downstream speed = 4.5 + 1.5 = 6 km/h
Step 2: Upstream speed = 4.5 - 1.5 = 3 km/h
Step 3: Avg speed (equal dist) = 2 x 6 x 3 / (6+3) = 36/9 = 4 km/h

Ans: 4 km/h

AFCAT
A boat goes 30 km upstream in 5 hours and 44 km downstream in 4 hours. Find speed of stream.
2016

(A) 2 km/h (B) 3 km/h

(C) 4 km/h (D) 1 km/h

SOLUTION
Step 1: Upstream speed = 30/5 = 6 km/h
Step 2: Downstream speed = 44/4 = 11 km/h
Step 3: Speed of stream = (Downstream - Upstream) / 2 = (11-6)/2 = 2.5 km/h
Step 4: Note: Check exact values in your paper as memory-based versions vary slightly

Ans: 2.5 km/h (verify in your paper)

 AFCAT
A man can row 6 km/h in still water. River flows at 2 km/h. Time to row 10 km downstream?
2018

(A) 1 hr (B) 1.25 hrs

(C) 1.5 hrs (D) 2 hrs

SOLUTION
Step 1: Downstream speed = 6 + 2 = 8 km/h
Step 2: Time = 10/8 = 1.25 hours = 1 hr 15 min

Ans: 1.25 hours

A boat covers 24 km upstream and 36 km downstream in 6 hours each. What is the speed of the AFCAT
current? 2019

(A) 1 km/h (B) 2 km/h

(C) 3 km/h (D) 1.5 km/h

SOLUTION
Step 1: Upstream speed = 24/6 = 4 km/h
Step 2: Downstream speed = 36/6 = 6 km/h
Step 3: Speed of current = (6-4)/2 = 1 km/h

Ans: 1 km/h

AFCAT
Speed of boat in still water = 15 km/h. Stream speed = 3 km/h. How long to go 36 km and come back?
2020

(A) 4.5 hrs (B) 5 hrs

(C) 5.5 hrs (D) 4 hrs

SOLUTION
Step 1: Downstream = 15+3 = 18 km/h, Upstream = 15-3 = 12 km/h
Step 2: Time downstream = 36/18 = 2 hours
Step 3: Time upstream = 36/12 = 3 hours
Step 4: Total time = 2 + 3 = 5 hours

Ans: 5 hours

A man rows 10 km upstream and 10 km downstream. Upstream takes 2.5 hrs, downstream takes 1.25 AFCAT
hrs. Find boat speed in still water. 2022

(A) 5 km/h (B) 6 km/h

(C) 4 km/h (D) 8 km/h

SOLUTION
Step 1: Upstream speed = 10/2.5 = 4 km/h
Step 2: Downstream speed = 10/1.25 = 8 km/h
Step 3: Boat speed = (8+4)/2 = 6 km/h

Ans: 6 km/h
A boat goes downstream at 20 km/h and upstream at 12 km/h. Find speed of boat in still water and AFCAT
current. 2023

(A) Boat=16, Current=4 (B) Boat=14, Current=6

(C) Boat=18, Current=2 (D) Boat=15, Current=5

SOLUTION
Step 1: Boat speed = (20+12)/2 = 16 km/h
Step 2: Current speed = (20-12)/2 = 4 km/h

Ans: Boat = 16 km/h, Current = 4 km/h

PYQ Section 3 — Races & Speed Ratio

In a 100m race, A beats B by 10m and B beats C by 10m. By how many metres does A beat C in a AFCAT
100m race? 2016

(A) 19 m (B) 20 m

(C) 21 m (D) 18 m

SOLUTION
Step 1: When A runs 100, B runs 90 (ratio A:B = 100:90 = 10:9)
Step 2: When B runs 100, C runs 90 (ratio B:C = 100:90 = 10:9)
Step 3: When A runs 100, B runs 90, and C runs 90x(90/100) = 81
Step 4: A beats C by 100 - 81 = 19 metres

Ans: 19 metres

In a race of 500m, A beats B by 20m and C by 50m. By how many metres does B beat C in a 500m AFCAT
race? 2018

(A) 30 m (B) 31.25 m

(C) 32 m (D) 28 m

SOLUTION
Step 1: When A runs 500: B runs 480, C runs 450
Step 2: B:C ratio from A's race = 480:450 = 16:15
Step 3: When B runs 500, C runs 500 x 15/16 = 468.75
Step 4: B beats C by 500 - 468.75 = 31.25 m

Ans: 31.25 metres

A runs 1.5 times as fast as B. If A gives B a start of 60m, how far must the winning post be so that both AFCAT
reach at the same time? 2019

(A) 120 m (B) 150 m

(C) 180 m (D) 200 m

SOLUTION
Step 1: Speed ratio A:B = 3:2 (A is 1.5x = 3/2 times B)
Step 2: Let winning post = x metres. A runs x, B runs (x-60)
Step 3: Since same time: x/3 = (x-60)/2
Step 4: 2x = 3(x-60) → 2x = 3x - 180 → x = 180 m

Ans: 180 metres

 AFCAT
A and B run a 1000m race. A runs at 5 m/s, B runs at 4 m/s. By how many metres does A beat B?
2020

(A) 150 m (B) 200 m

(C) 180 m (D) 250 m

SOLUTION
Step 1: Time taken by A to finish = 1000/5 = 200 seconds
Step 2: In 200 seconds, B covers = 4 x 200 = 800 m
Step 3: A beats B by = 1000 - 800 = 200 m

Ans: 200 metres

In a circular race of 1200m, A and B start at the same point at the same time. A's speed = 10 m/s, B's AFCAT
speed = 8 m/s, same direction. When do they first meet? 2021

(A) 400 sec (B) 500 sec

(C) 600 sec (D) 800 sec

SOLUTION
Step 1: Relative speed (same direction) = 10 - 8 = 2 m/s
Step 2: They meet when A has covered exactly 1 full round more than B
Step 3: Time = Track length / Relative speed = 1200/2 = 600 seconds

Ans: 600 seconds

A and B walk around a circular park of 400m. A walks at 3 m/s, B walks at 2 m/s in OPPOSITE AFCAT
direction. After how many seconds do they first meet? 2022

(A) 60 sec (B) 70 sec

(C) 80 sec (D) 100 sec

SOLUTION
Step 1: Opposite direction: Relative speed = 3 + 2 = 5 m/s
Step 2: They meet when combined distance = track length = 400 m
Step 3: Time = 400 / 5 = 80 seconds

Ans: 80 seconds

AFCAT
In a 200m race, A beats B by 30m. What is the ratio of their speeds?
2023

(A) 17:20 (B) 20:17

(C) 7:10 (D) 10:7

SOLUTION
Step 1: When A runs 200, B runs 200-30 = 170
Step 2: Speed ratio A:B = 200:170 = 20:17

Ans: A : B = 20 : 17
A can run 1 km in 3 min 20 sec. B can run 1 km in 3 min 40 sec. By how much distance does A beat B AFCAT
in a 1 km race? 2024

(A) 80 m (B) 90.9 m

(C) 100 m (D) 75 m

SOLUTION
Step 1: A's time = 3 min 20 sec = 200 sec
Step 2: B's time = 3 min 40 sec = 220 sec
Step 3: In 200 sec, B covers = 1000 x (200/220) = 909.09 m
Step 4: A beats B by = 1000 - 909 = approx 90.9 m

Ans: Approx 90.9 metres

PYQ Section 4 — Mixed / Tricky Questions

A person can walk to a certain place and drive back in 6 hours. He can also walk both ways in 10 AFCAT
hours. How much time will he take to drive both ways? 2016

(A) 2 hrs (B) 2.5 hrs

(C) 4 hrs (D) 2 hrs

SOLUTION
Step 1: Walk one way + Drive one way = 6 hrs ... (1)
Step 2: Walk one way + Walk one way = 10 hrs → Walk one way = 5 hrs
Step 3: From (1): Drive one way = 6 - 5 = 1 hr
Step 4: Drive both ways = 2 x 1 = 2 hours

Ans: 2 hours

A man covers a distance of 1200 km partly by train at 60 km/h and partly by bus at 45 km/h. Total time AFCAT
= 23 hours. Find distance by bus. 2019

(A) 400 km (B) 540 km

(C) 660 km (D) 300 km

SOLUTION
Step 1: Let bus distance = x, train distance = 1200-x
Step 2: (1200-x)/60 + x/45 = 23
Step 3: Multiply through by 180: 3(1200-x) + 4x = 23x180
Step 4: 3600 - 3x + 4x = 4140 → x = 540 km

Ans: 540 km by bus

A boy walks from his school to home at 2.5 km/h and reaches 6 minutes late. If he walks at 5 km/h, he AFCAT
reaches 10 minutes early. Find the distance. 2020

(A) 2 km (B) 2.5 km

(C) 3 km (D) 2 km

SOLUTION
Step 1: Let distance = d km
Step 2: d/2.5 - d/5 = 16/60 (difference = 16 minutes = 16/60 hours)
Step 3: 2d/5 - d/5 = 16/60
Step 4: d/5 = 16/60 → d = 80/60 = 4/3 km ≈ 1.33 km
Step 5: Note: verify exact numbers in your paper — memory-based versions vary

Ans: Verify with exact values in your paper

Two cities A and B are 300 km apart. A car starts from A at 60 km/h and another from B at 40 km/h AFCAT
toward each other. In how many hours will they meet? 2021

(A) 2 hrs (B) 2.5 hrs

(C) 3 hrs (D) 4 hrs

SOLUTION
Step 1: Relative speed (toward each other) = 60 + 40 = 100 km/h
Step 2: Time to meet = 300 / 100 = 3 hours

Ans: 3 hours

A train travelling at 90 km/h overtakes a motorbike travelling at 72 km/h in 20 seconds. What is the AFCAT
length of the train? 2022

(A) 80 m (B) 100 m

(C) 120 m (D) 150 m

SOLUTION
Step 1: Relative speed = 90 - 72 = 18 km/h = 18 x 5/18 = 5 m/s
Step 2: In 20 seconds, train covers = 5 x 20 = 100 m (only train length, bike has no
length)
Step 3: Train length = 100 m

Ans: 100 metres

A man rows a boat 18 km in 4 hours downstream and returns upstream in 12 hours. Find speed of AFCAT
stream. 2023

(A) 1.5 km/h (B) 1.875 km/h

(C) 2 km/h (D) 1 km/h

SOLUTION
Step 1: Downstream speed = 18/4 = 4.5 km/h
Step 2: Upstream speed = 18/12 = 1.5 km/h
Step 3: Speed of stream = (4.5 - 1.5)/2 = 3/2 = 1.5 km/h
Step 4: Note: exact answer is 1.5 km/h — verify options in your version

Ans: 1.5 km/h

EXAM DAY STRATEGY — Time, Distance & Races

Step What to do Time target

1 Read question — identify if it's Train, Boat, or Race 10 sec

2 For trains: immediately convert km/h to m/s 10 sec

3 For boats: write D = u+v, U = u-v and solve 15 sec

4 For races: write ratio = Full race : what loser ran 15 sec

5 Check options — eliminate impossibles first 10 sec

Total Average 60 seconds per question for this chapter 60 sec

Last-minute revision checklist

[ ] I know: Speed = D/T, D = S x T, T = D/S
[ ] I can convert: 72 km/h = 20 m/s (x 5/18)
[ ] Trains same direction: ADD lengths, SUBTRACT speeds
[ ] Trains opposite direction: ADD lengths, ADD speeds
[ ] Boats: D = u+v, U = u-v, boat = (D+U)/2, stream = (D-U)/2
[ ] Races: speed ratio = full race : (full race - by how much A beats B)
[ ] Circular same dir: time = length / (S1-S2)
[ ] Circular opp dir: time = length / (S1+S2)

AFCAT Numerical Ability — Time, Distance & Races | Concepts + 30+ PYQs | Compiled for AFCAT 2026 | Good luck, Himanshu!