Speed, Distance and Time

Speed, distance and time is one of the most practical topics in the Edexcel GCSE Mathematics (1MA1) specification. It is classified as a compound measure because speed involves two different units (distance and time). Questions appear across all three papers and may include distance-time graphs, unit conversions and multi-step problems.

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Key Vocabulary

Term	Meaning
Speed	How fast something is moving (distance per unit time)
Average speed	Total distance / Total time
Distance	How far something travels
Time	The duration of the journey
Compound measure	A measure involving two different units

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The Speed-Distance-Time Triangle

The three formulae linking speed, distance and time are:

• Speed = Distance / Time (S = D / T)
• Distance = Speed x Time (D = S x T)
• Time = Distance / Speed (T = D / S)