2008 AIME II Problem 2

Attempt Problem 2 of the 2008 AIME II below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2008 AIME II solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

2.

Rudolph bikes at a constant rate and stops for a five-minute break at the end of every mile. Jennifer bikes at a constant rate which is three-quarters the rate that Rudolph bikes, but Jennifer takes a five-minute break at the end of every two miles. Jennifer and Rudolph begin biking at the same time and arrive at the 5050-mile mark at exactly the same time. How many minutes has it taken them?

Answer: 620
Concepts:distance rate and timerational equation
Difficulty rating: 2020
Solution:

Let Rudolph bike at rr miles per minute. He rests after each of miles 11 through 49,49, so his total time is 50r+495=50r+245\frac{50}{r} + 49 \cdot 5 = \frac{50}{r} + 245 minutes. Jennifer bikes at 3r4\frac{3r}{4} miles per minute and rests after each of miles 2,4,,48,2, 4, \ldots, 48, so her total time is 503r/4+245=2003r+120\frac{50}{3r/4} + 24 \cdot 5 = \frac{200}{3r} + 120 minutes.

Setting the times equal gives 50r+245=2003r+120,\frac{50}{r} + 245 = \frac{200}{3r} + 120, so 125=2001503r=503r, \begin{aligned} 125 &= \frac{200 - 150}{3r} \\ &= \frac{50}{3r}, \end{aligned} and r=215.r = \frac{2}{15}. The common time is 502/15+245=375+245=620\frac{50}{2/15} + 245 = 375 + 245 = 620 minutes.

← Problem 1#1
Full Exam

Problem 2 in Other Years