Police Math Test Police Math Speed, Distance, and Time 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Two patrol cars start 300 miles apart and drive toward each other at 50 mph and 70 mph. When do they meet?
- 2 hours
- 2.5 hours (Correct answer)
- 3 hours
- 3.5 hours
Correct answer: 2.5 hours
Combined closing speed is 120 mph; 300 ÷ 120 = 2.5 hours.
Question 2: A car leaves at 60 mph. A patrol car leaves 1 hour later at 80 mph. How long until the patrol car catches up?
- 2 hours
- 3 hours (Correct answer)
- 4 hours
- 5 hours
Correct answer: 3 hours
The lead car is 60 miles ahead; gap closes at 20 mph, so 60 ÷ 20 = 3 hours.
Question 3: A vehicle travels 120 miles at 40 mph, then returns the same route at 60 mph. What is the average speed for the round trip?
- 46 mph
- 48 mph (Correct answer)
- 50 mph
- 52 mph
Correct answer: 48 mph
Total distance 240 miles ÷ total time 5 hours (3 + 2) = 48 mph.
Question 4: A suspect runs at 8 mph. How many seconds to cover 100 yards? (1 mile = 1,760 yards)
- 18.4 seconds
- 20.5 seconds
- 25.6 seconds (Correct answer)
- 30.0 seconds
Correct answer: 25.6 seconds
8 mph = 14,080 yards/hour ≈ 3.91 yards/sec; 100 ÷ 3.91 ≈ 25.6 seconds.
Question 5: An officer drives 25 miles in 25 minutes. What is the average speed?
- 50 mph
- 55 mph
- 60 mph (Correct answer)
- 65 mph
Correct answer: 60 mph
25 minutes = 25/60 hour; 25 ÷ (25/60) = 60 mph.
Question 6: A car travels 200 miles using 8 gallons of fuel at 50 mph. How many gallons per hour does it burn?
- 1.5 gal/hr
- 2 gal/hr (Correct answer)
- 2.5 gal/hr
- 3 gal/hr
Correct answer: 2 gal/hr
Trip time = 200 ÷ 50 = 4 hours; 8 gallons ÷ 4 hours = 2 gal/hr.
Question 7: A motorcycle covers 5 miles every 6 minutes. What is its speed in mph?
- 40 mph
- 45 mph
- 50 mph (Correct answer)
- 55 mph
Correct answer: 50 mph
6 minutes fits 10 times in an hour, so 5 × 10 = 50 mph.
Police Math Test Police Math Speed, Distance, and Time 3
Two patrol cars start 300 miles apart and drive toward each other at 50 mph and 70 mph.
When do they meet?