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.

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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
Difficulty rating: 1410
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 33=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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