Difference between revisions of "1996 AHSME Problems/Problem 13"
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+ | ==Problem== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sunny runs at a steady rate, and Moonbeam runs <math>m</math> times as fast, where <math>m</math> is a number greater than 1. If Moonbeam gives Sunny a head start of <math>h</math> meters, how many meters must Moonbeam run to overtake Sunny? | ||
+ | |||
+ | <math> \text{(A)}\ hm\qquad\text{(B)}\ \frac{h}{h+m}\qquad\text{(C)}\ \frac{h}{m-1}\qquad\text{(D)}\ \frac{hm}{m-1}\qquad\text{(E)}\ \frac{h+m}{m-1} </math> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Solution == | ||
+ | |||
+ | If Sunny runs at a rate of <math>s</math> for <math>x</math> meters in <math>t</math> minutes, then <math>s = \frac{x}{t}</math>. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In that case, Moonbeam's rate is <math>ms</math>, and Moonbeam's distance is <math>x + h</math>, and the amount of time <math>t</math> is the same. Thus, <math>ms = \frac{x + h}{t}</math> | ||
+ | |||
+ | Solving each equation for <math>t</math>, we have <math>t = \frac{x}{s} = \frac{x + h}{ms}</math> | ||
+ | |||
+ | Cross multiplying, we get <math>msx = xs + hs</math> | ||
+ | |||
+ | Solving for <math>x</math>, we get <math>msx - xs = hs</math>, which leads to <math>x = \frac{h}{m - 1}</math>. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Note that <math>x</math> is the distance that Sunny ran. Moonbeam ran <math>h</math> meters more, for a total of <math>h + \frac{h}{m-1} = \frac{h(m-1) + h}{m-1} = \frac{hm}{m-1}</math>. This is answer <math>\boxed{D}</math>. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Solution 2== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Note that <math>h</math> is a length, while <math>m</math> is a dimensionless constant. Thus, <math>h</math> and <math>m</math> cannot be added, and <math>B</math> and <math>E</math> are not proper answers, since they both contain <math>h+m</math>. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Thus, we only concern ourselves with answers <math>A, C, D</math>. | ||
+ | |||
+ | If <math>m</math> is a very, very large number, then Moonbeam will have to run just over <math>h</math> meters to reach Sunny. Or, in the language of limits: | ||
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+ | <math>\lim_{x\rightarrow \infty} d(m) = h</math>, where <math>d(m)</math> is the distance Moonbeam needs to catch Sunny at the given rate ratio of <math>m</math>. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In option <math>A</math>, when <math>m</math> gets large, the distance gets large. Thus, <math>A</math> is not a valid answer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In option <math>C</math>, when <math>m</math> gets large, the distance approaches <math>0</math>, not <math>h</math> as desired. This is not a valid answer. (In fact, this is the distance Sunny runs, which does approach <math>0</math> as Moonbeam gets faster and faster.) | ||
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+ | In option <math>D</math>, when <math>m</math> gets large, the ratio <math>\frac{m}{m-1}</math> gets very close to, but remains just a tiny bit over, the number <math>1</math>. Thus, when you multiply it by <math>h</math>, the ratio in option <math>D</math> gets very close to, but remains just a tiny bit over, <math>h</math>. Thus, the best option out of all the choices is <math>\boxed{D}</math>. | ||
+ | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
{{AHSME box|year=1996|num-b=12|num-a=14}} | {{AHSME box|year=1996|num-b=12|num-a=14}} |
Revision as of 10:51, 19 August 2011
Contents
[hide]Problem
Sunny runs at a steady rate, and Moonbeam runs times as fast, where is a number greater than 1. If Moonbeam gives Sunny a head start of meters, how many meters must Moonbeam run to overtake Sunny?
Solution
If Sunny runs at a rate of for meters in minutes, then .
In that case, Moonbeam's rate is , and Moonbeam's distance is , and the amount of time is the same. Thus,
Solving each equation for , we have
Cross multiplying, we get
Solving for , we get , which leads to .
Note that is the distance that Sunny ran. Moonbeam ran meters more, for a total of . This is answer .
Solution 2
Note that is a length, while is a dimensionless constant. Thus, and cannot be added, and and are not proper answers, since they both contain .
Thus, we only concern ourselves with answers .
If is a very, very large number, then Moonbeam will have to run just over meters to reach Sunny. Or, in the language of limits:
, where is the distance Moonbeam needs to catch Sunny at the given rate ratio of .
In option , when gets large, the distance gets large. Thus, is not a valid answer.
In option , when gets large, the distance approaches , not as desired. This is not a valid answer. (In fact, this is the distance Sunny runs, which does approach as Moonbeam gets faster and faster.)
In option , when gets large, the ratio gets very close to, but remains just a tiny bit over, the number . Thus, when you multiply it by , the ratio in option gets very close to, but remains just a tiny bit over, . Thus, the best option out of all the choices is .
See also
1996 AHSME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
Preceded by Problem 12 |
Followed by Problem 14 | |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 | ||
All AHSME Problems and Solutions |