2014 AMC 8 Problem 25

Attempt Problem 25 of the 2014 AMC 8 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 2014 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

25.

A straight one-mile stretch of highway, 4040 feet wide, is closed. Robert rides his bike on a path composed of semicircles as shown. If he rides at 55 miles per hour, how many hours will it take to cover the one-mile stretch?
Note: 11 mile = 52805280 feet
π11 \dfrac{\pi}{11}
π10 \dfrac{\pi}{10}
π5 \dfrac{\pi}{5}
2π5 \dfrac{2\pi}{5}
2π3 \dfrac{2\pi}{3}
Answer: B
Concepts:arcunit conversiondistance rate and time
Small hint:
Each semicircle advances Robert 4040 feet along the highway.
Big hint:
Compare the length of a semicircle to its diameter.
Solution:
Each semicircle advances Robert 4040 feet along the highway, so a one-mile stretch requires 528040=132\frac{5280}{40}=132 semicircles.
Each semicircle has diameter 4040 feet, so its arc length is 20π20\pi feet. The total distance Robert rides is 132⋅20π=2640π132\cdot20\pi=2640\pi feet, which is 2640π5280=π2\dfrac{2640\pi}{5280}=\dfrac{\pi}{2} miles.
At 55 miles per hour, the time is π2÷5=π10\dfrac{\pi}{2}\div5=\dfrac{\pi}{10} hours.
Thus, B is the correct answer.
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