2007 AMC 12B Problem 13

Attempt Problem 13 of the 2007 AMC 12B 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 2007 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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

13.

A traffic light runs repeatedly through the following cycle: green for 3030 seconds, then yellow for 33 seconds, and then red for 3030 seconds. Leah picks a random three-second time interval to watch the light. What is the probability that the color changes while she is watching?
163\dfrac{1}{63}
121\dfrac{1}{21}
110\dfrac{1}{10}
17\dfrac{1}{7}
13\dfrac{1}{3}
Answer: D
Concepts:geometric probability
Small hint:
One full cycle lasts 30+3+30=6330+3+30=63 seconds
Big hint:
A change is seen only if her interval begins within 33 seconds before one of the three color switches
Solution:
The cycle length is 30+3+30=6330+3+30=63 seconds, with three color changes per cycle.
Leah sees a change exactly when her three-second interval starts within the 33 seconds before a switch. That gives 3⋅3=93\cdot3=9 favorable seconds out of 63,63, a probability of 963=17. \dfrac{9}{63}=\dfrac17.
Thus, the correct answer is D.
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