Algebra: Distance, Rate, Time Word Problems 

 
Two friends leave a hotel at the same time travelling in opposite directions. They travel 
for four hours and are then 480 miles apart. If one friend travels 10 miles per hour faster 
than the other, find the average rate of speed for each person. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brian and Jennifer both leave the convention at the same time traveling in opposite 
directions. Brain drove at 35 mph and Jennifer drove at 50 mph. After how much time 
were they 340 miles apart? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A boat travels for three hours with a current of 3 mph and then returns the same 
distance against the current in four hours. What is the boat’s speed in calm water? 
How far did the boat travel one way? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Fred can fly 2760 km in the same time that he can drive 756 km. If Fred’s speed is 167 
km/hour faster when he is flying than when he is driving, find Fred’s flight speed and 
driving speed. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A passenger train left the station and traveled south at an average speed of 28 mph. A 
cattle train left at the same time and traveled in the opposite direction with an average 
speed of 34 mph. Find the number of hours the cattle train needs to travel before the 
trains are 434 miles apart. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A boat travels 20 miles per hour in still water. If the boat can travel 3 miles downstream 
in the same amount of time as it takes it to travel 2 miles upstream, find the speed of 
the current. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Anjaji made a trip to his friend’s house and back. On the trip there he traveled 54 km/h 
and on the return trip he went 45 km/h. How long did the trip there take if the return 
trip took six hours? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gabriella left Anjali’s house and drove toward the ferry office at an average speed of 50 
km/h. Ashley left sometime later driving the same direction at an average speed of 75 
km/h. After driving for two hours Ashley caught up with Gabriella. How long did 
Gabriella drive before Ashley caught up. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A cattle train left Berlin two hours before a diesel train. The trains traveled in opposite 
directions. The diesel train traveled at 15 km/h for 12 hours. After this time the trains 
were 950 km apart. Find the cattle train’s speed. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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A boat can travel 16 miles up a river in 2 hours. The same boat can travel 36 miles 
downstream in 3 hours. What is the speed of the boat in still water? What is the speed 
of the current? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With the wind, an airplane travels 1120 miles in seven hours. Against the wind, it takes 
eight hours. Find the rate of the plane in still air and the velocity of the wind. 

Academics for All