CHIJ Secondary

MATHEMATICS
Chapter 5
Graphs of Functions and
Graphical Solution
(Part II)

Name: _______________
Sec 3 / ___
 Contents

No. Title
1. Distance-time graph
2. Speed-time graph
3. Other types of graphs

Homework Done
1 Distance-time graph
2 Speed-time graph

Learning Objectives

At the end of this chapter, you are expected to be able to

□ interpret and analyse data from distance-time and speed-time graphs.

Summary

Distance-time graph Speed-time graph

Speed = Gradient of distance-time
Acceleration = gradient of speed-time graph
graph

Distance = area under the speed-time graph

2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 2
 1. Distance – Time graph
A Distance – Time Graph describes a journey graphically, telling a story of the journey travelled in
terms of distance travelled, time taken, speed and average speed.
The given travel graph is made up of slant lines
Example 1 and horizontal lines.
The travel graph below shows the journey taken ▪ Along the slant lines, the doctor was on the
by a doctor who drove from his clinic to answer a move as the distance travelled changed with

house call. On his way back, he attended to another time. The gradient of each slant line is the
speed of that part of the journey.
house call.
change in y Dist
[Gradient = = = Speed ]
change in x Time
20 B C
Distance from clinic (km)

As a slant line has a constant gradient, hence

16 along each slant line the doctor is

D travelling at constant speed.

12 E
The steeper the slope of the graph the faster

8 the speed travelled.

4 ▪ Along the horizontal lines, he has stopped

F moving (at rest), as distance travelled
0
A 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 remained constant as time goes on.
Time in minutes
The gradient of the horizontal lines is zero,
i.e. the speed is zero at these times.

1. The doctor travelled ….. km in ….. minutes to his first patient and spent .…. minutes with
him.
2. On the way back to his clinic, he travelled …… km in …… minutes to his second patient,
with whom he spent _____ minutes.
3. He then returned to his clinic travelling ……. km in ........ minutes.

4. His speed during the first 20 mins of his journey = Gradient of AB =

5. His speed at 45 mins from the start of his journey =

6. His speed during the last 10 mins of his journey =

Total dis tan ce travelled

7. Average Speed for the entire journey =
Total time taken (including rest time)
• Distance travelled and time taken are read
directly from the graph.
• Speed and Average speed are embedded
2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Chwhich
information are found by calculation.
5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 3
Example 2 Significance of a distance–time graph,
• gradient of the graph = speed

20

15

Distance
from home
(km) 10

0
11 00 11 30 12 00 12 30 13 00 13 30 14 00

Time of day
The distance-time graph shows Ravi’s cycle journey.
He sets out from home and cycles to a park.
After a short stop at the park, he then continues his journey to a shopping centre.
(a) At what
He stops time does
for lunch Ravi
at the arrive centre
shopping at the park?
before cycling home. [1]

(a) How many minutes does Ravi spend at the shopping centre? [1]

(b) How far is the park from the shopping centre? [1]

(c) At what speed does Ravi cycle home?

Give your answer in kilometres per hour. [1]

(d) Between which two places did Ravi cycle slowest?

Answer ......................................... and ........................................... [1]

(e) Salim, Ravi’s brother, sets out from home at 11 15.
He cycles directly to the shopping centre at a constant speed of 15 km/h.
Who arrives at the shopping centre first?
How many minutes later does his brother arrive?

Answer .................... arrives first and his brother arrives .................... minutes later. [2]

2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 4
 Homework 1 (Distance-time graph)

A walker leaves his house at 10 00 and walks towards a shopping centre at a constant speed
of 5 km/h.
A cyclist leaves the same house 10 minutes later.
He travels along the same road at a constant speed of 20 km/h until he reaches the shopping centre
which is 6 km from the house.
The cyclist stops at the shopping centre for 14 minutes.
He then returns to the house along the same road at a constant speed of 20 km/h.

(a) The distance-time graph for the walker is drawn below.

On the same axes, draw the distance-time graph for the cyclist. [3]

5
Distance
from 4
house
(km) 3

0
10 00 10 10 10 20 10 30 10 40 10 50 11 00 11 10
Time of day
(b) Using the graphs, find
(i) the time when the cyclist, on his return journey, meets the walker, [1]

(ii) the distance from the house when this meeting takes place. [1]

(c) If the walker had taken a bus he would arrive at the shopping centre at 10 45.
How much time would he have saved if he had taken the bus? [1]

Answer: (a) (10 10, 0) → (10 28, 6) → (10 42, 6) → (11 00, 0) (bi) 1048 (bii) 4 km (c) 27 min
2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 5
Translation of distance-time graph to speed-time graph
The gradient of a distance–time graph is the speed of the moving body.

Example 3
The following diagram shows the distance - time graph of a jogger.

C
5
4
Distance
(km) 3 A B

1
D
O 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Time(min)

(a) Find the jogger’s speed, in kilometers per hour, for each part of his 90 minutes run.
(i) Speed along OA = Gradient of OA =

(ii) Speed along AB =

(iii) Speed along BC =

(iv) Speed along CD =

(b) On the grid below, draw the speed – time graph for the whole of the jogger’s run

12

10
Speed (km/h)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Time(min)
2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 6
2. Speed-time graphs ( pg 143)
Summary:
A speed-time graph has 4 variables
35 • Speed
• Time
Speed • Distance travelled
(m/s) • Acceleration (Deceleration)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Time (t seconds)

Speed–Time Graphs show the speeds of a moving body over a period of time.

A Speed – Time Graph has two embedded information

(1) The distance travelled by the moving body is equal to the area under the graph.

(2) The acceleration or deceleration of the moving body is equal to the gradient of the graph.

Concept 1: Distance travelled = Area Under Graph Distance = speed × time

cannot be used as this
The diagram represents the speed-time graph of a cyclist. formula is only applicable
Find the total distance travelled. when the speed is the same
throughout.
Speed
(m/s)
total distance travelled = area under graph
= area of trapezium
13

0 18 29 35
Time (t) in seconds
The diagram is the speed-time graph of part of a car’s journey.
The total distance travelled in the 20 seconds is 490m.
Find the speed of the car when t = 20.

v total distance travelled = area under graph

Speed
in m/s 15

0
20
Time (t) in seconds
2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 7
 Concept 2: Acceleration or Deceleration = Gradient of speed-time graph
change in speed v v2 − v1
Acceleration or Deceleration = Gradient of a speed-time graph = = =
change in time t t2 − t1
increase in speed Acceleration is how much the
Acceleration = positive gradient =
time taken speed increases in a second.
The bigger the value, the
decrease in speed greater the increase in speed.
Deceleration = negative gradient =
time taken
Deceleration is how much the
speed decreases in a second.

Description of a Journey Zero acceleration means

• Constant speed there is no change in speed.
Speed • Gradient is zero
(m/s) • Zero Acceleration
v

• Speed increases at a constant rate • Speed decreases at a constant rate

• Gradient of graph is constant v v • Gradient of graph is constant
• Acceleration is constant • Deceleration is constant

t t
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Time (t seconds)

1 The diagram represents the speed-time graph of a cyclist.

(a) Find the acceleration during the first 18 seconds.
Speed
(m/s)

13

(b) Find the deceleration when t = 20.

4
0 18 25
Time (t) in seconds

2 The diagram is the speed-time graph of a moving object.

(a) Find the acceleration of the object at t = 5.
Speed
in m/s
40

19 (b) The object decelerates at a rate of 2m/s2.

Calculate the time at which the object comes to rest.

0 9
Time (t) in seconds

2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 8
 Example 4 Description of the Motion
The diagram is the speed – time graph of a car. between t = 0 and t = 20
• starts from rest (starts from zero
speed)
• speed increases at a constant rate
15 (positive gradient)
Speed • acceleration is constant
(m/s) between t = 20 and t = 70
• constant speed of 15 m/s
• zero acceleration

0 20 70 between t = 70 and t = t
t
Time in seconds • speed decreases at a constant rate
(negative gradient)
• deceleration is constant

(a) Calculate the acceleration of the car during the first 20 seconds. [1]
Concept 2

(b) Calculate the distance the car travels from rest before it begins to decelerate. [2]
Concept 1

(c) Given that the car decelerates at 0.5 m/s2, calculate the total time taken for the journey. [1]

Concept 2

(d) Calculate the average speed of the car for whole journey. [1]

*(e) Calculate the speed of the car after 6 seconds. [1]

use gradient of a
straight line to find
the speed at a
particular time

2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 9
 Homework 2 (Speed-time graph)

1. The diagram is the speed-time graph of the first 20 seconds of a motorcyclist’s journey.
35
(a) Calculate the motorcyclist’s
30
deceleration during the final 8 seconds.[1]
25
Speed 20
(metres per
second) 15
10
5

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time (seconds)
(b) Calculate the distance traveled in the 20 seconds. [2]

2. The diagram is the speed–time graph of a car which is uniformly retarded from u m/s to 20 m/s
in 10 seconds. The car is then uniformly retarded at a different rate until it finally comes to rest
after a further 40 seconds.

Speed u
in
m/s 20

0 10 50
Time in seconds
Calculate
(a) the deceleration during the final 40 seconds of its motion, [1]

(b) the speed of the car after 20 seconds. [1]

(c) the value of u, if the distance travelled in the first 10 seconds is 275 metres. [2]

1a) 3.75 m/s2 b) 270 m 2a) 0.5 m/s2 b) 15 m/s c) u = 35

2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 10
 Translation of speed-time graph to distance-time graph
Speed-Time Graph Distance–Time Graph (Gradient Speed)
(1) Area under graph determines the distance travelled
(2) Change in Speed type of gradient

Example 5
8

Speed 6
(m/s) 4

2
Time (sec)
0 5 10 15 20
(1) Distance travelled Distance travelled Distance travelled Distance travelled
= Area under graph = Area under graph = Area under graph = Area under graph
= =
= =
Total distance Total distance
= =
Fig C
(2) Body is moving Body is moving Body is moving Body has zero
Fig A
with increasing with a constant with decreasing speed (at rest) D
speeds. speed. speeds. translates into
D
translates into translates into translates into
a horizontal
a curve with a straight slant a curve with straight line of
increasing line of one decreasing zero gradient T
T gradients (Fig gradient (Fig gradients (Fig (Fig D)
A) in the B) in the C) in the in the Fig D
Fig B Distance-time Distance-time Distance-time Distance-time
graph graph graph graph. D
D

T
T

Remember to
label axes.

Distance Distance is the

(m) total distance
travelled from
time = 0s

Time (sec)
0 5 10 15 20
2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 11
4. Other graphs ( pg 146)
Example 6 (Graphs of Real-Life)
The graph shows the relation between the number (n) of units of electricity used and the total cost
(C) of an electricity bill.

50

40

30
Cost (C)
in $
20

10

0 100 200 300 400 500

Number (n) of units
(a) Use the graph to find
(i) the cost of the bill if 300 units are used, [1]

(ii) the number of units used when the bill is $32.50. [1]

(b) Given that the relation is C = pn + q,

(i) find the value of p and explain its significance, Recall: Equation[2]
of a straight line
Y = mX + c ,
m = gradient c = y-intercept

(ii) quantity q is known as “ a fixed charge” or “a basic fee”.

State the value of q and explain its significance, [2]

(iii) find the total cost of the bill if 1100 units are used. [2]

2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 12
Rate of Change Graphs
A Rate of Change is a measure of how a certain quantity changes with one unit of time.
In a distance-time graph:
gradient of the graph = rate of change of distance per unit time (speed).
In a speed-time graph:
gradient of the graph = rate of change of speed per unit time (acceleration/deceleration).

Rate of Change of Depth Graphs

In a depth–time graph the gradient of the graph is the rate of change of depth (cm/sec)

The following empty containers are filled with water from taps running at a constant rate.

The depth of the water increases at a constant

rate, i.e. the change (Δ) is constant

Depth Rate of change of depth = Gradient = a constant.

(d cm)
Gradient of depth-time graph is a constant.

0 Time (t sec) Depth-time graph is a y = mx graph with a positive

gradient.

The depth of the water increases slowly at first

but the Δ in depth becomes greater up with time.

Depth Rate of change of depth = Gradient = not a constant.

(d cm)
The Δ is small at first and gets greater with time.

0 Gradient of depth-time graph is gentle at first and

Time (t sec)
increases with time.

Depth-time graph is a concave curve.

The depth of the water increases rapidly at first

but the Δ in depth becomes smaller with time.
Depth Rate of change of depth = Gradient = not a constant.
(d cm) The Δ is large at first and gets smaller with time.
Gradient of depth-time graph is steep at first and
decreases with time.
0 Time (t sec)
Depth-time graph is a convex curve.

2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 13
O – Level Exam Questions 2019– SP2008 Paper 1

N2019/P1/17

The distance-time graph shows the journeys for two people, Nur and Lim, between two villages A
and B.

(a) Find Nur’s speed for the first hour of her journey. [1]

(b) (i) Find the time when Nur and Lim pas each other. [1]

(ii) How far are they from village B when they pass each other? [1]

(c) Lim jogs back to village B at 8 km/h.

Convert 8 km/h into metres per second. [1]

N2018 NIL
2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 14
N2017/P1/5
The diagram shows the speed-time graph for a car’s journey between two sets of traffic lights. The
shaded are represents the distance travelled.
The distance travelled is 693 m.

Speed
(m/s)

0 34 84
Time (seconds)

(a) Calculate the greatest speed, v m/s, of the car. [1]

(b) Calculate the acceleration for the first 34 seconds of the journey. [1]

N2016 NIL

2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 15
SP2016/P1/17

The graph shows the amount of petrol in the tank of Anil’s car during a journey.

(a) How much petrol did the gar use on the journey? [1]

(b) On the average, how many litres of petrol did the car use for each 100 km travelled over the
whole journey? [1]

(c) Anil stopped once on the journey to fill the tank with petrol.
He paid $2.13 per litre for the petrol.
How much did he spend filling up the tank. [2]

N2015 Nil

N2014 Nil
2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 16
 N2013/I/24
The diagram shows the speed-time graph of a car journey between two road junctions.

16
Speed
(m/s)

0 10 20 35
Time (seconds)

(a) Calculate the acceleration of the car after 5 seconds. [1]

(b) Calculate the total distance traveled between the two road junctions. [2]
(c) Use the grid below to sketch the distance-time graph for the journey. [3]

400

320

240

Distance
(m)
160

80

0
0 10 20 30 40
Time (seconds)

2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 17
N2012/I/19

The diagram shows the speed-time graph for a train journey.

18

Speed (m/s)

0 30 80 100
Time (seconds)
(a) Calculate the deceleration of the train for the last 20 seconds of the journey. [1]

(b) Calculate the total distance traveled on the journey. [2]

(c) The maximum speed of the train was 18 m/s.

Change 18 m/s into km/h. [1]

2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 18
N2011/I/24
Ali runs at a constant speed from home to a shop.
After spending 5 minutes in the shop, he walks back home at a constant speed.
He is away from home for 20 minutes.
The first part of his journey is shown on the distance-time graph below.

(a) On the grid, complete the graph for Ali’s journey.

1000

800

Distance 600
from home
(metres) 400

200

0
0 5 10 15 20
Time (minutes) [1]

(b) Calculate Ali’s speed as he ran to the shop.

Give your answer in kilometers per hour. [2]

(c) On the grid below, draw the speed-time graph for the whole of Ali’s journey.

10

Speed 6
(km/h)
4

0
0 5 10 15 [2]20
Time (minutes)

2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 19
N2010/I/17
The graph shows Alison’s journey from home to school.
She left home at 08 00, walked to the bus stop and traveled the rest of the way on the bus.

66
school
5

4
Distance from
home (km) 3

0
08 00 08 05 08 10 08 15 08 20
Time

(a) How long did she wait at the bus stop? [1]

(b) How far was she from school at 08 15? [1]

(c) Find the speed of the bus. [1]

(d) Alison’s brother, Sam, also left home at 08 00.

He cycled to school at a constant speed of 20 km/h.
Show his journey on the above graph. [1]

2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 20
N2009/I/12
The diagram is the speed-time graph for a car’s journey.
For this journey, calculate
(a) the acceleration during the first 40 seconds, [1]
(b) the total distance traveled. [1]
30

24

Speed 20
(m/s)

10

0
20 40 60
Time (seconds)

N2009/I/13
A container is a prism with a triangular cross-section.
The container has a height of 24 cm.
Water is poured into an the empty container at a constant rate.
It takes 8 seconds to fill the container.
After t seconds the dept of the water is d cm.
(a) Find the value of t when d = 12. [1] 24

(b) On the axes in the answer space, sketch the graph showing how the depth varies during
the 8 seconds. [1]

24

Depth 18
(d cm)
12

0 2 4 6 8
Time (t seconds)
2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 21
2008/I/20
Alan left home at 08 00 and cycled 20 km to a sports centre.
He later returned home.
The diagram below is Alan’s distance-time graph.

(a) Calculate his speed on the journey from home to the sports centre. [1]

(b) How far from the sports centre was he at 09 40? [1]

(c) Alan’s sister Brenda followed the same route as Alan to and from the sports centre.
She left home at 08 50 and drove to the sports centre at 60 km/h.
Later she returned home, driving at 60 km/h, arriving at 10 30.
(i) On the same axes, draw the graph to represent Brenda’s journey to and from
the sports centre. [2]

(ii) At what time did Brenda pass Alan on the return journey? [1]

Spotrs
Centre 20

Distance
from
home (km) 10

Home 0
08 00 09 00 10 00 11 00
Time

2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 22
SP2008/I/22
The graph shows the charges made by a plumber to carry out repairs.
The total cost is made up of a fixed charge, $p, together with a charge of $q per hour that the
plumber spends on the repair.

200

180

160

140

120
plumber’s
charge 100
($)
80

60

40

20

0 1 2 3 6
4 5 7 8
Time (hours)

(a) Find the cost of a repair that takes 8 hours. [1]

(b) Find the values of p and q. [1]

(c) A second plumber charges $24 per hour, but does not have a fixed charge.
(i) Draw a line on the grid to represent the charge made by this second plumber.
[1]

(ii) For a particular repair both plumber charge the same.

How long did the repair take? [1]

2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 23
Answers

Year Answers
2019/P1/17 2
(a) 3.6 km/h (bi) 12 24 (bii) 8 km (c) 2 m/s or 2.22 m/s (3sf)
9
2018 Nil
2017/P1/5 (a) 16.5 m/s (b) 33./68 = 0.485 m/s2
2016 Nil
SP2016 (a) 63 litres (b) 10.9 litres (c) $110.76
2015 Nil
2014 Nil
2013 (a) 1.6 m/s2 (b) 360 m (c) curve with increasing gradient (0, 0) to (10, 80),
line (10, 80) to (20, 240), curve with decreasing gradient (20, 240) to (35, 360)
2012 (a) 0.9 m/s2; (b) 1350 m; (c) 64.8 km/h.
2011 (a) straight line (5, 800) to (10, 800) to (20, 0) (b) 9.6 km/h.
horizontal lines: (0. 9.6) to (5, 9.6), (5, 0) to (10, 0) and (10, 4.8) to (20, 4.8)
2010 (a) 6 minutes; (b) 2.5 km; (c) 30 km/h;
(d) straight line from (08 00, 0) to (08 16.2, 5.4).
2009 12 (a) 3/5 m/s2; (b) 720 m.
13 Rate of Change of Depth
(a) t = 2 (b) convex curve through: (0, 0) → (2, 12) → (8, 24)
2008 (a) 24 km/h; (b) 4 km; (c)(i) straight line (08 50, 0) to (09 10, 20) and
straight line (10 10, 20) to (10 30, 0), (ii) 1021 – 1024.
SP2008 (a) $170, (b) p = 50, q = 15, (ci) line (0, 0) through (5,120), (cii) 5.5to 5.7 h

2022_CHIJSec3EMath – Ch 5_GraphsofFunctions(part2) 24