Difference between revisions of "2016 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 18"

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18. In an All-Area track meet, <math>216</math> sprinters enter a <math>100-</math>meter dash competition. The track has <math>6</math> lanes, so only <math>6</math> sprinters can compete at a time. At the end of each race, the five non-winners are eliminated, and the winner will compete again in a later race. How many races are needed to determine the champion sprinter?
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In an All-Area track meet, <math>216</math> sprinters enter a <math>100-</math>meter dash competition. The track has <math>6</math> lanes, so only <math>6</math> sprinters can compete at a time. At the end of each race, the five non-winners are eliminated, and the winner will compete again in a later race. How many races are needed to determine the champion sprinter?
  
  
<math>(A)\mbox{ }36\mbox{           }(B)\mbox{ }42\mbox{           }(C)\mbox{ }43\mbox{           }(D)\mbox{ }60\mbox{           }(E)\mbox{ }72\mbox{          }</math>
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<math>\textbf{(A)}\mbox{ }36\qquad\textbf{(B)}\mbox{ }42\qquad\textbf{(C)}\mbox{ }43\qquad\textbf{(D)}\mbox{ }60\qquad\textbf{(E)}\mbox{ }72</math>
 
==Solution==
 
==Solution==
From any nth race, only <math>\frac{1}{6}</math> will continue on. Since we wish to find the total number of races, a column representing the races over time is ideal.
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From any <math>n-</math>th race, only <math>\frac{1}{6}</math> will continue on. Since we wish to find the total number of races, a column representing the races over time is ideal.
 
Starting with the first race:
 
Starting with the first race:
 
<cmath>\frac{216}{6}=36</cmath>
 
<cmath>\frac{216}{6}=36</cmath>

Revision as of 11:42, 23 November 2016

In an All-Area track meet, $216$ sprinters enter a $100-$meter dash competition. The track has $6$ lanes, so only $6$ sprinters can compete at a time. At the end of each race, the five non-winners are eliminated, and the winner will compete again in a later race. How many races are needed to determine the champion sprinter?


$\textbf{(A)}\mbox{ }36\qquad\textbf{(B)}\mbox{ }42\qquad\textbf{(C)}\mbox{ }43\qquad\textbf{(D)}\mbox{ }60\qquad\textbf{(E)}\mbox{ }72$

Solution

From any $n-$th race, only $\frac{1}{6}$ will continue on. Since we wish to find the total number of races, a column representing the races over time is ideal. Starting with the first race: \[\frac{216}{6}=36\] \[\frac{36}{6}=6\] \[\frac{6}{6}=1\] Adding all of the numbers in the second column yields $43 \rightarrow \boxed{C}$

2016 AMC 8 (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 17
Followed by
Problem 19
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