Pickles AcademyStart for free

Two moving objects – practice for Years 7–9

Sample questions on Two moving objects with the right answer and a worked solution, from easy to hard. In the Pickles Academy app a child gets new questions of the same kind every time, so they can't just learn the answers by heart.

Subject
Maths
Year
Years 7–9
Curriculum area
Problem solving and non-routine tasks

Question types: Meeting and overtaking

Rule: Two moving objects

Moving towards each other, add the speeds. One following the other, subtract the speeds.

Time until they meet = the distance (or the head start) ÷ this combined speed.

Example: 240 km apart, towards each other at 60 and 60 km/h: t = 240 ÷ 120 = 2 h

Watch out: If one sets off later, first work out how far the first one went alone in the meantime.

Sample questions

  1. Question 1 Easy

    Towns A and B are 80 km apart. Two cars set off at the same time towards each other, one at 90 km/h and the other at 70 km/h. After how many minutes do they meet?

    Show the solution
    Answer: 30 min

    How it works: The gap closes at 90 + 70 = 160 km/h; t = 80 ÷ 160 = 0.5 h = 30 min

  2. Question 2 Normal

    A walker leaves a village at 6 km/h. 3 h later a cyclist sets off after him along the same road at 24 km/h. How many minutes after setting off does the cyclist catch up with the walker?

    Show the solution
    Answer: 60 min

    How it works: The walker's lead: 6 × 3 = 18 km; the cyclist gains 24 − 6 = 18 km/h; t = 18 ÷ 18 = 1 h = 60 min

  3. Question 3 Hard

    Towns A and B are 30 km apart. A cyclist leaves A for B at 20 km/h. 30 minutes later a second cyclist leaves B towards him at 20 km/h. How many kilometres from A do they meet?

    Show the solution
    Answer: 20 km

    How it works: In 30 min the first rides 10 km, leaving 20 km; together they cover it in 20 ÷ 40 = 0.5 h; the first rides 10 + 20 × 0.5 = 20 km in all

Related topics

All Maths topics

Keep practising in the app

In a minute, your child has their own avatar and a first task. Free, no ads, data in the EU.

Start for free