How to draw a distance-time graph - ��˿�� Bitesize

Real life situations such as travelling over time and across distance can be drawn on a graph.
Exact distances and times are plotted on the graph. These are shown as co-ordinates.
These points are then connected with straight lines to assist with further questions.

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Find out how to draw a graph from real life examples

A distance/time graph shows time on one axis (x) and distance on the other axis (y).

It is important to plot the important information from the problem.

(0,0) is the starting point because no time has passed and no distance has been travelled.

(10,1000) shows that after 10 minutes has passed a distance of 1000 m has been travelled.

Image caption,
Click to see a step-by-step slideshow.
Image caption,
YOU WILL NEED: A ruler, graph paper or a whiteboard and some pens.
Image caption,
STEP 1 - Write the key information from the question in a table like this. Include 2 columns (the total time and total distance) and 4 rows (home, walk to friend’s, stay at friend’s and skate to shop). This is all of the key information!
Image caption,
STEP 2 - Draw a graph with two axes: total time (x axis) and total distance (y axis). Label the axes.
Image caption,
STEP 3 - Plot the points from the table. For the walk to friend’s section of the journey plot a point at 10 on the x axis and 1000 on the y axis (10,1000), then (15,1000) and (20, 2000).
Image caption,
STEP 4 - So, how far had you travelled after 18 minutes? Find 18 on the x axis and draw a vertical line to the graph, from here draw a horizontal line to the y axis. This will be your answer. It is 1600 metres.

Discover more about this topic from Bitesize.