2018 AMC 8 Problem 17

Attempt Problem 17 of the 2018 AMC 8 below, then check your answer against the video solution and professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2018 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

17.

Bella begins to walk from her house toward her friend Ella’s house. At the same time, Ella begins to ride her bicycle toward Bella’s house. They each maintain a constant speed, and Ella rides 55 times as fast as Bella walks. The distance between their houses is 22 miles, which is 10,56010{,}560 feet, and Bella covers 2122 \tfrac{1}{2} feet with each step. How many steps will Bella take by the time she meets Ella?
704 704
845 845
1056 1056
1760 1760
3520 3520
Answer: A
Concepts:distance rate and timeratio and proportionunit conversion
Small hint:
Since Ella is 55 times as fast as Bella, split the distance in the ratio 1:51:5.
Big hint:
After finding Bella’s walking distance in feet, divide by 2122\frac12 feet per step.
Video solution:
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Written solution:
Since for every foot Bella walks, Ella rides 55 feet, we know that Bella will walk 16\frac16 of the distance between the two houses, and so she walks 16⋅10560=1760\dfrac16 \cdot 10560=1760 feet. Since she walks 2.52.5 feet per step, she takes 17602.5=704\dfrac{1760}{2.5} = 704 steps by the time she meets Ella.
Thus, A is the correct answer.
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