Distance-time graphs

The Maths Habit

Sam goes out and comes home. Which part is the stop? Which part is the way home?

Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC

B is the stop: the line is flat. C is the way home: the line goes back down.

Distance-time graph
A graph that shows how far from home something is as time goes on.
how far
Distance
How far. We measure it in km.
1 hour
Speed
How far something goes in one hour.
Stop
A flat line. The distance does not change.

How long and how far is part C?

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
  1. 1Count the hours.Squares across part C. Time = 3 hours
  2. 2Count the km.Squares down part C. Distance = 30 km

Find the hours and the km for part A.

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1Count the hours.Time (h)22Count the km.Distance (km)40

Find the hours and the km for part C.

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1Count the hours.Time (h)22Count the km.Distance (km)20

Find the hours and the km for part A.

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1Count the hours.Time (h)22Count the km.Distance (km)40

Find the hours and the km for part A.

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1Count the hours.Time (h)32Count the km.Distance (km)30
1Count the hours.2Count the km.

Find the hours and the km for part A.

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1Count the hours.Time (h)22Count the km.Distance (km)40

Find the hours and the km for part C.

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1Count the hours.Time (h)22Count the km.Distance (km)50
1Count the hours.2Count the km.

Find the hours and the km for part A.

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1Count the hours.Time (h)22Count the km.Distance (km)40

Find the hours and the km for part C.

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1Count the hours.Time (h)12Count the km.Distance (km)30
1Count the hours.2Count the km.

Find the hours and the km for each part.

1Part A

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1 Time (h)12 Distance (km)20

2Part C

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1 Time (h)22 Distance (km)60

3Part B

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1 Time (h)22 Distance (km)0
1Count the hours.2Count the km.

Work these out.

140 ÷ 2 =20
260 ÷ 3 =20
350 ÷ 2 =25
430 ÷ 1 =30

What is the speed in part C?

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
  1. 1Count the hours.Squares across part C. Time = 3 hours
  2. 2Count the km.Squares down part C. Distance = 30 km
  3. 3Divide the km by the hours.30 ÷ 3 = 10 km/h

Work out the speed for part A.

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1Count the hours.Time (h)22Count the km.Distance (km)603Divide the km by the hours.Speed (km/h)30

Work out the speed for part C.

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1Count the hours.Time (h)22Count the km.Distance (km)203Divide the km by the hours.Speed (km/h)10

Work out the speed for part A.

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1Count the hours.Time (h)22Count the km.Distance (km)603Divide the km by the hours.Speed (km/h)30

Work out the speed for part A.

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1Count the hours.Time (h)22Count the km.Distance (km)503Divide the km by the hours.Speed (km/h)25
1Count the hours.2Count the km.3Divide the km by the hours.

Work out the speed for part A.

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1Count the hours.Time (h)22Count the km.Distance (km)603Divide the km by the hours.Speed (km/h)30

Work out the speed for part C.

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1Count the hours.Time (h)32Count the km.Distance (km)303Divide the km by the hours.Speed (km/h)10
1Count the hours.2Count the km.3Divide the km by the hours.

Work out the speed for part A.

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1Count the hours.Time (h)22Count the km.Distance (km)603Divide the km by the hours.Speed (km/h)30

Work out the speed for part C.

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1Count the hours.Time (h)22Count the km.Distance (km)403Divide the km by the hours.Speed (km/h)20
1Count the hours.2Count the km.3Divide the km by the hours.

Work out the speed for each part.

1Part C

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1 Time (h)12 Distance (km)303 Speed (km/h)30

2Part A

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1 Time (h)32 Distance (km)603 Speed (km/h)20

3Part C

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
1 Time (h)22 Distance (km)503 Speed (km/h)25
1Count the hours.2Count the km.3Divide the km by the hours.

Is it right? Thumbs up or thumbs down.

0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABC
  1. APart A takes 2 hours. Right
  2. BThe stop takes 3 hours. Wrong: 1 hour
  3. CPart C is 40 km. Right
  4. DThe speed in part C is 40 ÷ 5 = 8 km/h. Wrong: 40 ÷ 2 = 20 km/h

Distance-time graphs worksheet, page 1

Distance-time graphs worksheet, page 2

Answer sheet

  1. Part A goes 30 km in half an hour. What is the speed?

    60 km/h

  2. How can you tell which part of a journey is the fastest without working it out?

    The steepest line

  3. A car goes at 40 km/h for 3 hours. How far does it go?

    120 km

  1. Work out the speed in part A. 1Count the hours.2h2Count the km.20km3Divide the km by the hours.10km/h

    10 km/h
    0123456102030405060Time (hours)Distance (km)ABCD

  2. Work out the speed in part B. 1Count the hours.1h2Count the km.20km3Divide the km by the hours.20km/h

    20 km/h

  3. Work out the speed in part D.

    40 km/h
Exit tickets to print