Speed Calculation: Compare 4 Toy Cars Moving at Different Distance-Time Rates

Q: Why can't I just compare the distances to find the fastest car?

Distance alone doesn't tell speed! Car C went 38m but took 4.5 seconds, while Car A went only 4m in just 0.5 seconds. You must divide distance by time to find actual speed.

Q: What if the times are given in different units?

Always convert to the same time units first! If one car's time is in minutes and another's in seconds, convert everything to seconds (or minutes) before calculating speed.

Q: Can two cars have the same speed?

Yes! If two cars have the same $ \frac{\text{distance}}{\text{time}} $ ratio, they're equally fast. For example, 6m in 1s and 12m in 2s both equal 6 m/s.

Q: What does m/s mean and why is it important?

m/s means meters per second - how many meters the car travels in one second. This unit lets you compare different cars fairly, regardless of how far they went or how long they took.

Q: Do I need to show all my calculations?

Yes! Show each step: Car A: $ \frac{4m}{0.5s} = 8\text{ m/s} $. This helps you catch mistakes and makes your reasoning clear.

Speed Calculation with Distance-Time Data

In the toy store, they want to test which toy car is the fastest
These are the test results:
Car A - 4m in 0.5 seconds.
Car B - 3m in 30 seconds.
Car C - in 4.5 seconds 38m.
Car D - in 2 seconds 15m.

Order the cars from fastest to slowest

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!

We have hundreds of course questions with personalized recommendations + Account 100% premium

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

In the toy store, they want to test which toy car is the fastest
These are the test results:
Car A - 4m in 0.5 seconds.
Car B - 3m in 30 seconds.
Car C - in 4.5 seconds 38m.
Car D - in 2 seconds 15m.

Order the cars from fastest to slowest

Step-by-step solution

First, let's calculate the speed of each toy car using the formula $\text{Speed} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Time}}$ .

For Car A: $\text{Speed}_A = \frac{4 \text{ m}}{0.5 \text{ s}} = 8 \text{ m/s}$
For Car B: $\text{Speed}_B = \frac{3 \text{ m}}{30 \text{ s}} = 0.1 \text{ m/s}$
For Car C: $\text{Speed}_C = \frac{38 \text{ m}}{4.5 \text{ s}} \approx 8.44 \text{ m/s}$
For Car D: $\text{Speed}_D = \frac{15 \text{ m}}{2 \text{ s}} = 7.5 \text{ m/s}$

After calculating the speeds, we can order the cars from fastest to slowest by comparing their speeds:

Car C: 8.44 m/s
Car A: 8 m/s
Car D: 7.5 m/s
Car B: 0.1 m/s

Therefore, the fastest car is Car C, followed by Car A, Car D, and the slowest is Car B.

Thus, the order of the cars from fastest to slowest is:

Car C
Car A
Car D
Car B

Final Answer

Car C
Car A
Car D
Car B

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Formula: Speed equals distance divided by time in consistent units
Technique: Calculate 38m ÷ 4.5s = 8.44 m/s for each car
Check: Compare all calculated speeds: 8.44 > 8 > 7.5 > 0.1 m/s ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Comparing distances instead of speeds
Don't just look at which car went farthest = wrong ranking! Car C went 38m but took 4.5 seconds, while Car A went only 4m in 0.5 seconds. Always calculate speed first using distance ÷ time.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

What is the ratio between the orange and gray parts in the drawing?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I just compare the distances to find the fastest car?

Distance alone doesn't tell speed! Car C went 38m but took 4.5 seconds, while Car A went only 4m in just 0.5 seconds. You must divide distance by time to find actual speed.

What if the times are given in different units?

Always convert to the same time units first! If one car's time is in minutes and another's in seconds, convert everything to seconds (or minutes) before calculating speed.

How do I handle decimal answers when calculating speed?

Use a calculator for accuracy, especially with divisions like $\frac{38}{4.5}$ . Round to 2 decimal places if needed: 8.44 m/s is more precise than 8.4 m/s.

Can two cars have the same speed?

Yes! If two cars have the same $\frac{\text{distance}}{\text{time}}$ ratio, they're equally fast. For example, 6m in 1s and 12m in 2s both equal 6 m/s.

What does m/s mean and why is it important?

m/s means meters per second - how many meters the car travels in one second. This unit lets you compare different cars fairly, regardless of how far they went or how long they took.

Do I need to show all my calculations?

Yes! Show each step: Car A: $\frac{4m}{0.5s} = 8\text{ m/s}$ . This helps you catch mistakes and makes your reasoning clear.

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 Ratio, Proportion and Scale questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime