EDEXCEL GCSE FOUNDATION MATHS - What are Speed, Distance, and Time

EDEXCEL GCSE Foundation Maths: Speed, Distance, and Time

Understanding the Relationship

Speed, distance, and time are fundamental concepts in mathematics and everyday life. They are interconnected, meaning that if you know any two of them, you can always calculate the third.

• Speed measures how fast something is moving.
• Distance measures how far something travels.
• Time measures how long something takes to travel a certain distance.

Formulas

The key formulas for calculating speed, distance, and time are:

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

Using the Formulas

Let's look at some examples:

Example 1:

• A car travels 120 miles in 2 hours. What is the car's speed?

• Speed = Distance / Time

• Speed = 120 miles / 2 hours
• Speed = 60 miles per hour

Example 2:

• A train travels at a speed of 80 kilometers per hour for 3 hours. How far does it travel?

• Distance = Speed x Time

• Distance = 80 km/h x 3 hours
• Distance = 240 kilometers

Example 3:

• A cyclist travels 25 kilometers at a speed of 10 kilometers per hour. How long does it take?

• Time = Distance / Speed

• Time = 25 km / 10 km/h
• Time = 2.5 hours

Units of Measurement

It's important to use consistent units of measurement when working with speed, distance, and time. For example, if distance is in meters, time should be in seconds, and speed will be in meters per second.

Practice Problems

1. A plane flies at a speed of 500 miles per hour. If it travels for 4 hours, how far does it fly?
2. A runner completes a 10-kilometer race in 45 minutes. What is the runner's average speed in kilometers per hour?
3. A car travels 200 kilometers at a speed of 80 kilometers per hour. How long does the journey take?

Key Takeaways

• Speed, distance, and time are interconnected concepts.
• You can use the formulas to calculate any one of these values if you know the other two.
• It's essential to use consistent units of measurement.

By understanding these concepts and formulas, you'll be able to solve a variety of problems involving speed, distance, and time.