The note
How schools teach it now
Not a separate primary topic, but it uses Year 6 skills: division, fractions of an hour and converting units. Many tutors teach a formula triangle; it's clearer to reason: 'How far in one hour?'
5-minute kitchen-table activity
On a journey, look at the distance and time on the sat nav. 'If we go 60 km in an hour, how far in 30 minutes? In 20 minutes?' (30 km, 20 km.)
Worked example
A car travels 150 km in 2½ hours. What is its average speed?
- 2½ hours is 5 half-hours.
- 150 km ÷ 5 = 30 km in each half-hour.
- One hour is two half-hours: 2 × 30 = 60 km.
Answer: 60 km/h
Common mistakes to watch for
- Treating 2 hours 30 minutes as 2.3 hours.
- Multiplying when they should divide.
- Mixing minutes and hours in one calculation.
Encouragement
- Try saying
- “How far would it go in just one hour?”
- Rather than
- “Just use the triangle.”