Question

It takes Clea $60$ seconds to walk down an escalator when it is not operating, and only $24$ seconds to walk down the escalator when it is operating. How many seconds does it take Clea to ride down the operating escalator when she just stands on it?

$36$

$40$

$42$

$48$

$52$

Solution:

Let $c$ represent Clea's speed walking down the non-operational escalator. Similarly, let $e$ represent Clea's speed standing still on the operational escalator. Then, as speed is equal to distance over time, we know that $c = \dfrac d{60}$ and $c+e = \dfrac d{24}.$ Therefore, $e = \dfrac d{24}-\dfrac d{60} = \dfrac d{40},$ meaning that Clea takes $40$ to descend the escalator by simply standing still.

Thus, the correct answer is B .

2012 AMC 10B Problem 13

Solution:

Problem 13 in Other Years