Year 8 - Speed, distance and time - Free practice

Year 8 Speed, Distance and Time Worksheets & Practice

Connect the formula triangle to real problems. Worked solutions every time, free.

Quick answer

How do you calculate speed, distance and time?

Use the formula: speed = distance ÷ time, rearranged as distance = speed × time or time = distance ÷ speed. Choose the version that has the unknown on its own. For example, travelling at 60 km/h for 2.5 hours covers 60 × 2.5 = 150 km. Always check that units are consistent before calculating.

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Worked examples

Year 8 speed, distance and time: worked examples

Three examples, from a standard question to a worded problem. Have a go at each one before you open the solution.

Example 1 · Finding speed, distance, and time
A cyclist travels 72 km in 3 hours at a constant speed. Find the cyclist's speed in km/h. Then find how far the cyclist would travel in 5 hours at the same speed.
Show worked solution
Key idea: The formula connecting speed, distance and time is $s = \dfrac{d}{t}$ . Rearranging gives $d = s \times t$ and $t = \dfrac{d}{s}$ .
1. Find the speed: $s = \frac{d}{t} = \frac{72}{3} = 24 \text{ km/h}$
2. Find the distance in 5 hours: $d = s \times t = 24 \times 5 = 120 \text{ km}$
Answer: The cyclist's speed is 24 km/h and the distance travelled in 5 hours is 120 km.
Example 2 · Converting units and finding time
A car travels at a constant speed of 90 km/h. A road sign shows the next town is 600 m away. Convert the car's speed to m/s, then find how many seconds it will take to reach the town.
Show worked solution
Key idea: To convert km/h to m/s, multiply by $\dfrac{1000}{3600} = \dfrac{5}{18}$ . Then use $t = \dfrac{d}{s}$ , making sure distance and speed are in the same units.
1. Convert speed to m/s: $90 \times \frac{5}{18} = \frac{450}{18} = 25 \text{ m/s}$
2. Distance is already in metres: $d = 600$ m.
3. Find the time: $t = \frac{d}{s} = \frac{600}{25} = 24 \text{ s}$
Answer: The car's speed is 25 m/s and it will reach the town in 24 seconds.
Example 3 · Multi-stage journey problem
Priya drives from Melbourne to a friend's house. She drives the first 180 km at 90 km/h, stops for a 30-minute rest, then drives the remaining 120 km at 80 km/h. Find the total time, in hours and minutes, for the entire trip from start to finish.
Show worked solution
Key idea: For a multi-stage journey, find the time for each stage separately using $t = \dfrac{d}{s}$ , then add all times including any stops.
1. Time for the first stage: $t_1 = \frac{180}{90} = 2 \text{ h}$
2. Rest time: $t_2 = 0.5$ h
3. Time for the second stage: $t_3 = \frac{120}{80} = 1.5 \text{ h}$
4. Total time: $t = 2 + 0.5 + 1.5 = 4 \text{ h}$
Answer: The total trip takes 4 hours.

Common mistakes

Where students usually lose marks

Mixing up units of distance or time

Speed = 90 km/h, distance = 600 m, so time = 600 ÷ 90 = 6.67 h

Always check that distance and speed use the same unit before substituting into the formula. Convert everything to matching units first: either both in kilometres and hours, or both in metres and seconds.

Confusing which quantity to find

To find time, a student writes $t = s \times d$ instead of $t = \dfrac{d}{s}$

Write out the triangle or all three rearrangements of the formula before starting: $s = \dfrac{d}{t}$ , $d = s \times t$ , and $t = \dfrac{d}{s}$ . Identify what you are solving for, then pick the correct version.

Forgetting to include stop or rest time

In a two-stage trip with a 30-minute rest, a student adds only the two driving times and forgets the 0.5 h stop.

List every stage of the journey, including stops, before you calculate. Add all times at the end.

Incorrect km/h to m/s conversion

$90 \text{ km/h} = 90 \div 100 = 0.9 \text{ m/s}$

To convert km/h to m/s, multiply by $\dfrac{1000}{3600} = \dfrac{5}{18}$ , because 1 km = 1000 m and 1 hour = 3600 s. Dividing by 100 is a common but incorrect shortcut.

Try one yourself

Your turn

A cyclist travels 78 km at a constant speed of 24 km/h. How long does the journey take? Give your answer in hours, correct to 2 decimal places.

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About this worksheet

Why we built it

Speed, distance and time is a core rates topic in Year 8 maths, sitting under the curriculum strand on mathematical modelling with ratios and rates. These worksheets guide students from reading and writing the formula to applying it in practical contexts like travel problems, unit conversion and multi-step scenarios, with full worked solutions so every mistake becomes a learning moment.

What's covered

Sub-skills your student will practise

✓Writing and rearranging the formula: speed = distance ÷ time
✓Finding distance when speed and time are given
✓Finding time when speed and distance are given
✓Converting between units: km/h and m/s
✓Solving multi-step problems with different units or stages
✓Interpreting and sketching distance-time graphs

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Frequently asked

Questions parents ask about speed, distance and time

What formula do Year 8 students need to know for speed, distance and time?

Students need to know speed = distance ÷ time, and be able to rearrange it to find distance = speed × time or time = distance ÷ speed. A formula triangle is a handy memory aid for the rearrangements.

How do you convert between km/h and m/s in Year 8?

To convert km/h to m/s, divide by 3.6. To go from m/s to km/h, multiply by 3.6. Knowing why this works (1 km = 1000 m, 1 hour = 3600 s) helps students apply it confidently rather than just memorising the rule.

What kinds of word problems come up in Year 8 speed, distance and time?

Common problems include finding travel time for a road trip, calculating average speed from a race result, and two-stage journeys where speed or direction changes partway. Distance-time graphs are also covered at this level.

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