Difference between revisions of "2012 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 16"

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==Problem 16==
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==Problem ==
  
 
Three runners start running simultaneously from the same point on a 500-meter circular track. They each run clockwise around the course maintaining constant speeds of 4.4, 4.8, and 5.0 meters per second. The runners stop once they are all together again somewhere on the circular course. How many seconds do the runners run?
 
Three runners start running simultaneously from the same point on a 500-meter circular track. They each run clockwise around the course maintaining constant speeds of 4.4, 4.8, and 5.0 meters per second. The runners stop once they are all together again somewhere on the circular course. How many seconds do the runners run?
  
 
<math> \textbf{(A)}\ 1,000\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 1,250\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 2,500\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 5,000\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 10,000 </math>
 
<math> \textbf{(A)}\ 1,000\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 1,250\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 2,500\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 5,000\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 10,000 </math>
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== Solution ==
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First consider the first two runners. The faster runner will lap the slower runner exactly once, or run 500 meters farther. Let <math>x</math> be the time these runners run in seconds.
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<math>4.8x-4.4x=500 \Rightarrow x=1250</math>
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Because <math>4.4(1250)=5500</math> is a multiple of 5, it turns out they just meet back at the start line.
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Now we must find a time that is a multiple of <math>1250</math> and results in the 5.0 m/s runner to end up on the start line. Every <math>1250</math> seconds, that fastest runner goes <math>5.0(1250)=6250</math> meters. In <math>2(1250)=2500</math> seconds, he goes <math>5.0(2500)=12500</math> meters. Therefore the runners run <math>\boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 2,500}</math> seconds.
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== See Also ==
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{{AMC10 box|year=2012|ab=A|num-b=15|num-a=17}}

Revision as of 01:10, 9 February 2012

Problem

Three runners start running simultaneously from the same point on a 500-meter circular track. They each run clockwise around the course maintaining constant speeds of 4.4, 4.8, and 5.0 meters per second. The runners stop once they are all together again somewhere on the circular course. How many seconds do the runners run?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 1,000\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 1,250\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 2,500\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 5,000\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 10,000$

Solution

First consider the first two runners. The faster runner will lap the slower runner exactly once, or run 500 meters farther. Let $x$ be the time these runners run in seconds.

$4.8x-4.4x=500 \Rightarrow x=1250$

Because $4.4(1250)=5500$ is a multiple of 5, it turns out they just meet back at the start line.

Now we must find a time that is a multiple of $1250$ and results in the 5.0 m/s runner to end up on the start line. Every $1250$ seconds, that fastest runner goes $5.0(1250)=6250$ meters. In $2(1250)=2500$ seconds, he goes $5.0(2500)=12500$ meters. Therefore the runners run $\boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 2,500}$ seconds.

See Also

2012 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 15
Followed by
Problem 17
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All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions