Basics
The formula provided for distance by the Mathematics Formula Sheet is straightforward, but it can be rearranged to ask questions about rate and time, too.
A question involving distance is often a plug-in (where you end up plugging in numbers for letters).
The word per is a hint that a distance-related question could be coming.
distance = rate × time
d = rt
d = distance
r = rate
t = time
Formulas (Mathematics Formula Sheet)
d = rt
Formulas (NOT on Mathematics Formula Sheet)
r = d ÷ t
t = d ÷ r
Question
A car traveled at a speed of 55 miles per hour for 9 hours. What distance did it travel?
Answer
495 miles
Answer Process
r = 55 miles per hour
t = 9 hours
d = rt
d = 55 × 9 = 495
Input | Display | Comment |
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blinker | clears screen |
55 × 9 | 55*9 | d = rt |
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495 | Answer |
Distance |
Question
A car traveled 715 miles in 11 hours.
What was the car’s speed in miles per hour?
Answer
65 miles per hour
Answer Process
d = 715 miles
t = 11 hours
r = d ÷ t
r = 715 ÷ 11 = 65
Input | Display | Comment |
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blinker | clears screen |
715 ÷ 11 | 715÷11 | r = d ÷ t |
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65 | Answer |
Distance: Rate |
Question
A car traveled 980 miles at a speed of 70 miles per hour. How much time elapsed?
Answer
14 hours
Answer Process
d = 980 miles
r = 70 miles per hour
t = d ÷ r
t = 980 ÷ 70 = 14
Input | Display | Comment |
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blinker | clears screen |
980 ÷ 70 | 980÷70 | t = d ÷ r |
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14 | Answer |
Distance: Time |
Practice – Questions
1. A car traveled at a speed of 75 kilometers per hour for 11 hours. What distance did it travel?
2. A rocket traveled at a speed of 17555 miles per hour for 24 hours. What distance did it travel?
3. A car traveled 1120 kilometers in 14 hours.
What was the car’s speed in kilometers per hour?
4. A rocket traveled 669600 miles in 36 hours.
What was the rocket’s speed in miles per hour?
5. A car traveled 650 miles at a speed of 50 miles per hour. How much time elapsed?
Practice – Answers
1. 825 kilometers
2. 421320 miles
3. 80 kilometers per hour
4. 18600 miles per hour
5. 13 hours