Difference between revisions of "1996 AHSME Problems/Problem 13"

Latest revision as of 19:34, 2 November 2023

Problem

Sunny runs at a steady rate, and Moonbeam runs $m$ times as fast, where $m$ is a number greater than 1. If Moonbeam gives Sunny a head start of $h$ meters, how many meters must Moonbeam run to overtake Sunny?

$\text{(A)}\ hm\qquad\text{(B)}\ \frac{h}{h+m}\qquad\text{(C)}\ \frac{h}{m-1}\qquad\text{(D)}\ \frac{hm}{m-1}\qquad\text{(E)}\ \frac{h+m}{m-1}$

Solution

If Sunny runs at a rate of $s$ for $h$ . Then the distance covered is $sh$ . Now we know that Moonbeam runs $m$ times as fast than Sunny, so Moonbeam runs at the rate of $ms$ . Now Moonbeam gave Sunny a headstart of $h$ meters, so he will catch on Sunny at the rate of $s(m-1)$ . At time $\frac{h}{m-1}$ Moon beam will catch on Sunny. Now we are asked how much in meters he have to run to catch on Sunny. That is $\frac{hm}{m-1}$ .

Solution 2

Note that $h$ is a length, while $m$ is a dimensionless constant. Thus, $h$ and $m$ cannot be added, and $B$ and $E$ are not proper answers, since they both contain $h+m$ .

Thus, we only concern ourselves with answers $A, C, D$ .

If $m$ is a very, very large number, then Moonbeam will have to run just over $h$ meters to reach Sunny. Or, in the language of limits:

$\lim_{m\rightarrow \infty} d(m) = h$ , where $d(m)$ is the distance Moonbeam needs to catch Sunny at the given rate ratio of $m$ .

In option $A$ , when $m$ gets large, the distance gets large. Thus, $A$ is not a valid answer.

In option $C$ , when $m$ gets large, the distance approaches $0$ , not $h$ as desired. This is not a valid answer. (In fact, this is the distance Sunny runs, which does approach $0$ as Moonbeam gets faster and faster.)

In option $D$ , when $m$ gets large, the ratio $\frac{m}{m-1}$ gets very close to, but remains just a tiny bit over, the number $1$ . Thus, when you multiply it by $h$ , the ratio in option $D$ gets very close to, but remains just a tiny bit over, $h$ . Thus, the best option out of all the choices is $\boxed{D}$ .

Solution 3

Assume that Sunny originally runs at a unit speed, and thus Moonbeam runs at a rate of $m$ .

Choose a new reference frame where Sunny is still, and Moonbeam runs at a rate of $m-1$ . In this new reference frame, the distance to be run is still $h$ .

Moonbeam runs this distance $h$ in a time of $\frac{h}{m-1}$

Returning to the original reference frame, if Moonbeam runs for $\frac{h}{m-1}$ seconds, Moonbeam will cover a distance of $\frac{hm}{m-1}$ , which is option $\boxed{D}$ .

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+==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>
+__TOC__
+==Solution==
+If Sunny runs at a rate of <math>s</math> for <math>h</math>. Then the distance covered is <math>sh</math>. Now we know that Moonbeam runs <math>m</math> times as fast than Sunny, so Moonbeam runs at the rate of <math>ms</math>. Now Moonbeam gave Sunny a headstart of <math>h</math> meters, so he will catch  on Sunny at the rate of <math>s(m-1)</math> . At time <math>\frac{h}{m-1}</math>  Moon beam will catch on Sunny. Now  we are asked how much in meters he have to run to catch on Sunny. That is <math>\frac{hm}{m-1}</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:
+<math>\lim_{m\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.)
+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>.
+===Solution 3===
+Assume that Sunny originally runs at a unit speed, and thus Moonbeam runs at a rate of <math>m</math>.
+Choose a new reference frame where Sunny is still, and Moonbeam runs at a rate of <math>m-1</math>.  In this new reference frame, the distance to be run is still <math>h</math>.
+Moonbeam runs this distance <math>h</math> in a time of <math>\frac{h}{m-1}</math>
+Returning to the original reference frame, if Moonbeam runs for <math>\frac{h}{m-1}</math> seconds, Moonbeam will cover a distance of <math>\frac{hm}{m-1}</math>, which is option <math>\boxed{D}</math>.
 ==See also==
 {{AHSME box|year=1996|num-b=12|num-a=14}}
+[[Category:Introductory Algebra Problems]]
+{{MAA Notice}}

1996 AHSME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
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