CAT Time, Speed, Distance &

Work Formulas
● Time, Distance and Work is the most important topic
for CAT Quant Section & all competitive exams.

● The questions from this topic vary from easy to

difficult.

● This formula sheet covers the most importance tips

that helps you to answer the questions in a easy, fast
and accurate way

𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 × 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒

𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 =
𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
| 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 =
𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑
● While converting the speed in m/s to km/hr, multiply

it by ( ) ⇒ 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h

18
5

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● While converting km/hr into m/sec, we multiply by

( )
5
18
● If the ratio of the speeds of A and B is a : b, then
➔ The ratio of the times taken to cover the same
distance is 1/a : 1/b or b : a.
➔ The ratio of distance travelled in equal time
intervals is a : b ,
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑
Average Speed = 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑇𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛
➔ If a part of a journey is travelled at speed 𝑆1 𝑘𝑚/ℎ𝑟
in 𝑇 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 and remaining part at speed 𝑆2 𝑘𝑚/ℎ𝑟
1
in 𝑇 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 then,
2
Total distance travelled = 𝑆 𝑇 + 𝑆 𝑇 𝑘𝑚
1 1 2 2

𝑆1𝑇1+𝑆2𝑇2
Average Speed = 𝑇1+𝑇2
km/hr

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● If 𝐷1 𝑘𝑚 is travelled at speed 𝑆1 𝑘𝑚/ℎ𝑟, and 𝐷2 𝑘𝑚
is travelled at speed 𝑆 𝑘𝑚/ℎ𝑟 then,
2
𝐷1+𝐷2
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 = 𝐷1 𝐷2 𝑘𝑚/ℎ𝑟
𝑆1
+ 𝑆2

● In a journey travelled with different speeds, if the

distance covered in each stage is constant, the
average speed is the harmonic mean of the different
speeds.
● Suppose a man covers a certain distance at x km/hr
and an equal distance at y km/hr. Then the average
2𝑥𝑦
speed during the whole journey is
𝑥+𝑦
𝑘𝑚/ℎ𝑟
● In a journey travelled with different speeds, if the
time travelled in each stage is constant, the average
speed is the arithmetic mean of the different speeds.

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● If a man travelled for a certain distance at x km/hr
and for equal amount of time at the speed of y km/hr
then the average speed during the whole journey is
𝑥+𝑦
2
𝑘𝑚/ℎ𝑟

Constant Distance
Let the distance travelled in each part of the journey be
𝑑1, 𝑑2 & 𝑑3 and so on till 𝑑𝑛 and the speeds in each part
be 𝑠1, 𝑠2, 𝑠3 and so on till 𝑠𝑛
If 𝑑1 = 𝑑2 = 𝑑3 =......... = 𝑑𝑛 = 𝑑, then the average
speed is the harmonic mean of the speeds 𝑠1, 𝑠2, 𝑠3 and
so on till 𝑠 .
𝑛

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 Constant Time
Let the distance travelled in each part of the journey be
𝑑1, 𝑑2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑3 and so on till 𝑑𝑛 and the time taken for each

part be 𝑡1, 𝑡2, 𝑡3 and so on till 𝑡𝑛.

If 𝑡1 = 𝑡2 = 𝑡3 =......... = 𝑡𝑛 = 𝑡, then the average speed is the

arithmetic mean of the speeds 𝑠1, 𝑠2, 𝑠3 and so on till 𝑠𝑛.

Clocks
➔ Calculating the angle/position of the hands
0
● Speed of hour hand = 0. 5 per minute
0
● Speed of minute hand = 6 per minute
0
● Relative speed of two hands = 5. 5 per minute
● The angle (in degrees) between hour hand and
minute hand at time H: M can be represented
11 0
as: θ = || 2 𝑀 − 30𝐻||

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➔ In a 12-hour period:

● The hour hand and the minute hand meet 11

times

0
● A 180 angle is formed between the two hands
11 times

0
● A 90 angle is formed between the two hands
22 times

➔ In a well-functioning clock, both hands meet

720
after every Mins.
11

➔ It is because the relative speed of the minute hand

11
with respect to the hour hand = degrees per
2

minute.

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 Erroneous Clocks
➔ An erroneous clock is a clock which loses or gains

time at a constant rate.

➔ In case of an erroneous clock losing/gaining ‘x’

sec per minute,

● It will lose/gain ‘x’ minutes per hour.

● It will show the correct time after every

‘720/x’ hours.

● The clock will show the same time again after

‘y’ hours where:

720
y= 60+𝑥
if the clock gains time.

720
y= 60−𝑥
if the clock loses time.’

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 ● If the clock is set right at ‘Q’ AM/PM. Then the

time ‘T’ shown by the clock after ‘h’ hours

pass on a correct clock would be:

T = 𝑄 + (ℎ × 𝑥) if the clock gains time.

T = 𝑄 − (ℎ × 𝑥) if the clock loses time.’

● If the clock is set right at ‘Q’ AM/PM. If ‘h’

hours pass on the erroneous clock, then the

actual time ‘T’ shown by a correct clock would

be:

T=Q+y ; y(in hours)

60ℎ
= 60+𝑥
𝑖𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

60ℎ
= 60−𝑥
𝑖𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒.

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 Circular Tracks
If two people are running on a circular track with
speeds in ratio a:b where a and b are co-prime, then

➔ They will meet at 𝑎 + 𝑏 distinct points if they

are running in opposite directions.

➔ They will meet at |𝑎 − 𝑏| distinct points if they

are running in same direction

● If two people are running on a circular track having

perimeter ‘l’, with speeds ‘m’ and ‘n’,
𝐼
The time for their first meeting =
(𝑚 +𝑛)

(when they are running in opposite directions)

𝐼
The time for their first meeting =
|(𝑚 −𝑛)|

(when they are running in the same direction)

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● If a person P starts from A and heads towards B and
another person Q starts from B and heads towards
A and they meet after a time 't' then,

t= (𝑥 × 𝑦)
where x = time taken (after meeting) by P to reach B
and y = time taken (after meeting) by Q to reach A.

● A and B started at a time towards each other. After

crossing each other, they took 𝑇1ℎ𝑟𝑠, 𝑇2ℎ𝑟𝑠

respectively to reach their destinations. If they

travel at constant speed 𝑆1 and 𝑆2 respectively all

𝑆1 𝑇2
over the journey, then
𝑆2
= 𝑇1

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 Trains
Two trains of length 𝐿1 and 𝐿2 travelling at speeds 𝑆1

and 𝑆2 cross each other in a time

𝐿1 + 𝐿2
=𝑆 + 𝑆2
(If they are going in opposite directions)
1

𝐿1 + 𝐿2
= (If they are going in the same directions)
|𝑆1 − 𝑆2|

Time & Work

⟹ If X can do a work in ‘n’ days, the fraction of work X
1
does in a day is
𝑛
⟹ If X can do work in ‘x’ days, and Y can do work in ‘y’
days, then the number of days taken by both of them
𝑥×𝑦
together is
𝑥+𝑦
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⟹ If 𝑀1 men work for 𝐻1 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 per day and worked for
𝐷1days and completed 𝑊1 work, and if 𝑀2 men work for
𝐻2 hours per day and worked for 𝐷2 days and
completed 𝑊2 work, then
𝑀1𝐻1𝐷1 𝑀2𝐻2𝐷2
𝑊1
= 𝑊2

Boats & Streams

⟹ If the speed of water is 'W' and speed of a boat in

still water is ‘B’

⟹ Speed of the boat (downstream) is B+W

⟹ Speed of the boat (upstream) is B-W

The direction along the stream is called downstream.

And, the direction against the stream is called

upstream.

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⟹ If the speed of the boat downstream is x km/hr and
the speed of the boat upstream is y km/hr, then
𝑥+𝑦
⟹ Speed of the boat in still water = km/hr
2
𝑥−𝑦
⟹ Rate of stream = km/hr
2
⟹ While converting the speed in m/s to km/hr,

multiply it by ( ) ⟹ 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h

18
5

⟹ While converting km/hr into m/sec,

we multiply by ( )
5
18

Pipes & Cisterns

⟹ Inlet Pipe : A pipe which is used to fill the tank is

known as Inlet Pipe.

⟹ Outlet Pipe : A pipe which can empty the tank is

known as outlet pipe.

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● If a pipe can fill a tank in ‘x’ hours then the part
1
filled per hour =
𝑥

● If a pipe can empty a tank in ‘y’ hours, then the

1
part emptied per hour =
𝑦

● If a pipe A can fill a tank in ‘x’ hours and pipe can

empty a tank in ‘y’ hours, if they are both active at
the same time, then
1 1
The part filled per hour =
𝑥
− 𝑦
(𝐼𝑓 𝑦 > 𝑥)
1 1
The part emptied per hour =
𝑦
− 𝑥
(𝐼𝑓 𝑥 > 𝑦)

Some Tips and Tricks

● Some of the questions may consume a lot of time.

While solving, write down the equations without any

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 errors once you fully understand the given problem.

The few extra seconds can help you avoid silly

mistakes.

● Check if the units of distance, speed and time match

up. If you see yourself adding a unit of distance like

m to a unit of speed m/s, you would realise you have

possibly missed a term.

● Choose to apply the concept of relative speed

wherever possible since it can greatly reduce the

complexity of the problem.

● In time and work, while working with equations,

ensure that you convert all terms to consistent units

like man-hours.

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