Formula

Distance, Rate, and Time Formula

The distance, rate, and time formula describes the relationship among the distance an object travels (dd), its speed (rr), and the elapsed time (tt) when the object moves at a uniform (constant) rate:

d=rtd = rt

Distance equals the product of the rate of speed and the time traveled. For example, a car traveling at a steady rate of 6060 miles per hour for 33 hours covers a distance of d=603=180d = 60 \cdot 3 = 180 miles. Because the formula connects three quantities through multiplication, knowing any two of them allows the third to be found by solving the equation. To find the rate when distance and time are known, divide both sides by tt to obtain r=dtr = \frac{d}{t}. To find the time when distance and rate are known, divide both sides by rr to obtain t=drt = \frac{d}{r}. This formula is one of the most widely used relationships in elementary algebra applications and provides an accessible introduction to working with formulas that contain several variables.

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Updated 2026-05-02

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