Ratio & ProportionIntroduction

The Formula That Moves the World

Part of Speed, Distance, Time · GCSE GCSE Mathematics revision

This introduction covers The Formula That Moves the World within Speed, Distance, Time for GCSE Mathematics. Revise Speed, Distance, Time in Ratio & Proportion for GCSE Mathematics with 14 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 1 of 4 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

Topic position

Section 1 of 4

Practice

14 questions

Recall

12 flashcards

The Formula That Moves the World

Every journey you've ever taken - walking to school, driving on holiday, flying abroad - can be described by just three numbers: how fast, how far, and how long. The relationship between speed, distance, and time is so simple it fits in a triangle, but so powerful it helps pilots, engineers, and even athletes!

Speed Distance Time formula triangle showing DST method, three formulas (S=D÷T, D=S×T, T=D÷S), units matching, and worked examples

Keep building this topic

Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Speed, Distance, Time. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

The Formula Triangle Worked Example Knowledge Organiser: Speed, Distance and Time

Practice Questions for Speed, Distance, Time

Which formula correctly shows the relationship between speed (S), distance (D), and time (T)?

A. S = D + T
B. S = D × T
C. S = D ÷ T
D. S = T ÷ D

1 markfoundation

A car travels at 30 km/h for 2 hours, then at 90 km/h for 1 hour. The mean of the two speeds is (30 + 90) ÷ 2 = 60 km/h. Explain why the average speed for the journey is NOT 60 km/h.

2 markshigher

Quick Recall Flashcards

What is average speed?

Average Speed = Total Distance ÷ Total Time Not the mean of individual speeds — you must use the overall distance and overall time.

What is the formula for time?

Time = Distance ÷ Speed (T = D ÷ S)

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Speed, Distance, Time

The Formula Triangle