2004 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 15

Revision as of 17:42, 6 January 2008 by Tjhance (talk | contribs) (Solution)
The following problem is from both the 2004 AMC 12A #15 and 2004 AMC 10A #17, so both problems redirect to this page.

Problem

Brenda and Sally run in opposite directions on a circular track, starting at diametrically opposite points. They first meet after Brenda has run 100 meters. They next meet after Sally has run 150 meters past their first meeting point. Each girl runs at a constant speed. What is the length of the track in meters?

$\mathrm{(A) \ } 250 \qquad \mathrm{(B) \ } 300 \qquad \mathrm{(C) \ } 350 \qquad \mathrm{(D) \ }  400\qquad \mathrm{(E) \ } 500$

Solution

Call the length of the race track $x$. When they meet at the first meeting point, Brenda has run $100$ meters, while Sally has run $\frac{x}{2} - 100$ meters. By the second meeting point, Sally has run $150$ meters, while Brenda has run $x - 150$ meters. Since they run at a constant speed, we can set up a proportion: $\frac{100}{x- 150} = \frac{\frac{x}{2} - 100}{150}$. Cross-multiplying, we get that $x = 350 \Longrightarrow \mathrm{(C)}$.

See also

2004 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 14
Followed by
Problem 16
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
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions
2004 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 16
Followed by
Problem 18
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
All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions