Difference between revisions of "2007 AIME I Problems/Problem 4"
Monkeymatt (talk | contribs) |
Scrabbler94 (talk | contribs) (Undo revision 109540 by Brudder (talk) Solution 2 (LCM/GCF) is wrong; this method would obtain 105 years even if the periods were 6000, 8400, 14000 for example.) (Tag: Undo) |
||
(7 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
== Problem == | == Problem == | ||
− | Three planets orbit a star circularly in the same plane. Each moves in the same direction and moves at constant speed. Their periods are | + | Three planets orbit a star circularly in the same plane. Each moves in the same direction and moves at [[constant]] speed. Their periods are 60, 84, and 140 years. The three planets and the star are currently [[collinear]]. What is the fewest number of years from now that they will all be collinear again? |
== Solution == | == Solution == | ||
− | + | ||
+ | Denote the planets <math>A, B, C </math> respectively. Let <math>a(t), b(t), c(t) </math> denote the angle which each of the respective planets makes with its initial position after <math>t </math> years. These are given by <math> a(t) = \frac{t \pi}{30} </math>, <math> b(t) = \frac{t \pi}{42} </math>, <math>c(t) = \frac{t \pi}{70}</math>. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In order for the planets and the central star to be collinear, <math>a(t)</math>, <math>b(t) </math>, and <math>c(t) </math> must differ by a multiple of <math>\pi </math>. Note that <math> a(t) - b(t) = \frac{t \pi}{105}</math> and <math> b(t) - c(t) = \frac{t \pi}{105}</math>, so <math> a(t) - c(t) = \frac{ 2 t \pi}{105} </math>. These are simultaneously multiples of <math>\pi </math> exactly when <math>t </math> is a multiple of <math>105</math>, so the planets and the star will next be collinear in <math>\boxed{105}</math> years. | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
− | {{AIME box|year=2007|n=I|num-b= | + | {{AIME box|year=2007|n=I|num-b=3|num-a=5}} |
+ | {{MAA Notice}} |
Latest revision as of 18:46, 11 March 2021
Problem
Three planets orbit a star circularly in the same plane. Each moves in the same direction and moves at constant speed. Their periods are 60, 84, and 140 years. The three planets and the star are currently collinear. What is the fewest number of years from now that they will all be collinear again?
Solution
Denote the planets respectively. Let
denote the angle which each of the respective planets makes with its initial position after
years. These are given by
,
,
.
In order for the planets and the central star to be collinear, ,
, and
must differ by a multiple of
. Note that
and
, so
. These are simultaneously multiples of
exactly when
is a multiple of
, so the planets and the star will next be collinear in
years.
See also
2007 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
Preceded by Problem 3 |
Followed by Problem 5 | |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 | ||
All AIME Problems and Solutions |
The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions.