Solving Distance Problems
The basic formula for solving distance problems is distance = rate time or D = RT. For example, if an automobile
travels at 30 miles per hour for 2 hours, then the distance is D = RT or 30 2 = 60 miles. Distance problems
usually involve two vehicles (i.e., automobiles, trains, bicycles, etc.) either traveling in the same direction or in
opposite directions, or one vehicle making a round trip. The strategy for solving distance problems is
1. Draw a diagram of the situation.
2. Set up a table as shown.
Rate Time = Distance
First Vehicle
Second Vehicle
3. Fill in the information in the table.
4. Write an equation for the situation.
EXAMPLE1: A person walked from his home to the football stadium at a rate of 3 miles per hour. After the game,
he rode the bus back the same way at a rate of 22 miles per hour. If the total time he spent traveling was 2 hours,
how far did he walk?
SOLUTION:
GOAL: You are being asked to find the distance the person walked from his home to the stadium.
STRATEGY: The distance he walked and rode is the same, but the direction is different. See figure below. Place
the rate 3 miles per hour for walking and 22 miles per hour for riding in the boxes under Rate. Let t = the time he
walked and 2 – t the time he rode. Place these in the boxes under Time. To get the distance, multiply the rate by
the time and place these expressions in the boxes under Distance as shown.
Rate Time = Distance
Walking 3 t 3t
Riding 22 2–t 22(2 – t)
Since the distance are equal, the equation is 3t = 22(2 – t)
IMPLEMENTATION: Solve the equation
3t = 22(2 – t)
3t = 44 – 22t
3t + 22t = 44
25t = 44
t = 1.76 hours
The distance, then, is D = RT or D = 3(1.76) = 5.28 miles
EVALUATION: You can check the answer by determining if the distance the person rode is the same distance
he walked.
D = RT D = 22(2 – 1.76) D = 22(0.24) D = 5.28 miles
In the previous problem, the same person made a round trip. In the next problem, we have two vehicles going in
the same direction.
EXAMPLE: A freight truck leaves Manila traveling north at 15 miles per hour. Four hours later, a freight van
leaves Manila traveling north at 35 miles per hour. How many miles from Manila will the freight van overtake
the freight truck?
SOLUTION:
GOAL: You are being asked the distance from Pittsburgh two trains travel before meeting.
STRATEGY: In this case, both trains are traveling in the same direction, and they travel the same distance. See
Figure. Place 35 miles per hour in the top box under Rate and 15 miles per hour in the bottom box under Rate.
Then let t = the time the freight van travels and place t in the top box under Time. Let (t + 4) be the time the
freight truck travels and place (t + 4) in the lower box under time. The freight train travels 4 more hours since it
left earlier. To get the distance for each train, multiply the rate by the time and place these expressions under
Distance.
Freight truck distance
Manila North
Freight van distance
Manila North
Rate Time = Distance
Freight Van 35 t 35t
Freight Truck 15 t+4 15(t + 4)
Since the distances each vehicle travels are the same, the equation is 35t = 15(t + 4).
IMPLEMENTATION: Solve the equation
35t = 15(t + 4)
35t = 15t + 60
35t – 15t = 60
20t = 60
t = 3 hours
To find the distance, use the formula D = RT
D = RT
D = 35 (3) = 105 miles
Hence the freight van will overtake the freight truck 105 miles from Manila to north.
EVALUATION: Check to see if the distance the freight truck travels is the same as the freight van; that is, 105
miles.
D = RT D = 15 (t + 4) D = 15 (3 + 4) D = 105 miles
Another type of distance problem is one where two vehicles are going in the opposite direction.
EXAMPLE: Two automobiles are leaving from the same point and are traveling in opposite directions. One is
going 10 miles per hour faster than the other is. After traveling two hours, they are 160 miles apart. How fast is
each automobile traveling?
SOLUTION:
GOAL: You are being asked to find the speed in miles per hour that each automobile was traveling.
STRATEGY: Draw a diagram showing that each automobile is traveling in the opposite direction. See Figure.
Let x = the rate (speed) of the first automobile and x + 10 = the rate (speed) of the second automobile. Place these
values in the boxes under Rate. Then the time each automobile travels is 2 hours, so place these numbers in the
boxes under Time. The expressions that represent the distances are 2x and 2(x + 10), so place these in the boxes
under Distance.
Rate Time = Distance
First Automobile x 2 2x
Second Automobile x + 10 2 2(x + 10)
If you look at Figure, you will see that the total distance is the sum of the individual distances each car went,
since each is going in the opposite direction: 2x + 2(x + 10) = 160.
IMPLEMENTATION: Solve the equation for x
2x + 2(x + 10) = 160
2x + 2x + 20 = 160
4x = 160 – 20
4x = 140
x = 35 miles per hour
x + 10 = 35 + 10 = 45 miles per hour
Hence the slower automobile was traveling at 35 miles per hour and the faster automobile was traveling at 45
miles per hour.
EXERCISES:
1. Two people leave from two towns that are 195 miles apart at the same time and travel along the same road
toward each other. The first person drives 5 miles slower than the second person. If they meet in 3 hours, at
what rate of speed did each travel?
2. Two planes leave the same airport and travel in opposite directions. Their speeds are 150 miles per hour and
100 miles per hour, respectively. In how many hours will they be 500 miles apart?
3. Two people travel in opposite directions after leaving at the same time from the same place. If one person
walks twice as fast as the other, and in two hours they are 10.5 miles apart, find the walking speeds of each.
4. In order to return her friend’s bicycle, a girl rides it to her friend’s house at a speed of 9 miles per hour. She
then walks back home at a speed of 3 miles per hour. If the total time of the round trip was 1.5 hours, how far
was her friend’s house?
5. A person riding a motorcycle leaves an hour after a person riding a bicycle. Both travel the same road. If the
person riding the bicycle is traveling at 10 miles per hour and the person riding the motorcycle is traveling at
30 miles per hour, how long will it take the motorcycle to overtake the bicycle?