Today’s problem — free all day, every step. Every day has one.
Bus and car — the catch-up
A bus left Town X at 8:00 am travelling at 60 km/h. A car left the same town at 9:00 am travelling in the same direction at 90 km/h. At what time will the car catch up with the bus?
The pattern behind it: Same time, same distance
Two travellers spend the same time, or cover the same distance.
In this one. The car does not have to travel 60 km more — it has to close a 60 km gap, and the gap shrinks at the difference of the speeds, 90 − 60 = 30 km/h.
How to spot it
Two travellers set off together or one chases another, with constant speeds and a question about who is ahead, when they meet, or how far apart they are.
Common mistake
Children divide the whole distance by the difference in speed instead of dividing the gap between the travellers, or compare distances covered over different lengths of time.
Try one like it
Standard Aladdin and Jasmine — the magic carpet race Aladdin and Jasmine were having a race on their magic flying carpets. They left the same starting point for the market at 13 00. B…The 33 problem patterns
All 33 patterns, one to a page — the 19 behind Primary 5 and 6 word problems, and the skills the younger years are built on. The bar model, how to spot it in the question, and the mistake children make. A booklet you can print. Free.
A PDF, and a note when new solutions go up.