2009 AMC 10A Problem 20

Attempt Problem 20 of the 2009 AMC 10A 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 2009 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.

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20.

Andrea and Lauren are 2020 kilometers apart. They bike toward one another with Andrea traveling three times as fast as Lauren, and the distance between them decreasing at a rate of 11 kilometer per minute. After 55 minutes, Andrea stops biking because of a flat tire and waits for Lauren. After how many minutes from the time they started to bike does Lauren reach Andrea?

2020

3030

5555

6565

8080

Answer: D
Concepts:distance rate and timerate
Difficulty rating: 1510
Solution:

Let Lauren's rate be rr km/min. Then r+3r=1,r + 3r = 1, so r=14.r = \dfrac14.

In the first 55 minutes the gap shrinks by 55 km, leaving 1515 km. Lauren covers this alone at 14\dfrac14 km/min, taking 151/4=60\dfrac{15}{1/4} = 60 minutes.

The total time is 5+60=655 + 60 = 65 minutes.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

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