Maths Olympiad Prep

Library / /195 of 213

, 2013

Algebra Difficulty 3.8 AMC 10/12 Find the answer Canada

Greg, Charlize, and Azarah run at different but constant speeds. Each pair ran a race on a track that measured 100 m from start to finish. In the first race, when Azarah crossed the finish line, Charlize was 20 m behind. In the second race, when Charlize crossed the finish line, Greg was 10 m behind. In the third race, when Azarah crossed the finish line, how many metres was Greg behind?

Pick one

Solution

Since PQR\triangle PQR is isosceles with PQ=QRPQ=QR and PQR=90°\angle PQR=90\degree, then QPR=QRS=45°\angle QPR=\angle QRS=45\degree.

Also in PQR\triangle PQR, altitude QSQS bisects PRPR (PS=SRPS=SR) forming two identical triangles, SQPSQP and SQRSQR.
Since these two triangles are identical, each has 12\frac{1}{2} of the area of PQR\triangle PQR.

In SQR\triangle SQR, QSR=90°\angle QSR=90\degree, QRS=45°\angle QRS=45\degree, and so SQR=45°\angle SQR=45\degree.

Thus, SQR\triangle SQR is also isosceles with SQ=SRSQ=SR.

Then similarly, altitude STST bisects QRQR (QT=TRQT=TR) forming two identical triangles, SQTSQT and SRTSRT.
Since these two triangles are identical, each has 12\frac{1}{2} of the area of SQR\triangle SQR or 14\frac{1}{4} of the area of PQR\triangle PQR.

Continuing in this way, altitude TUTU divides STR\triangle STR into two identical triangles, STUSTU and RTURTU.

Each of these two triangles has 12\frac{1}{2} of 14\frac{1}{4} or 18\frac{1}{8} of the area of PQR\triangle PQR.

Continuing, altitude UVUV divides RTU\triangle RTU into two identical triangles, RUVRUV and TUVTUV.

Each of these two triangles has 12\frac{1}{2} of 18\frac{1}{8} or 116\frac{1}{16} of the area of PQR\triangle PQR.

Finally, altitude VWVW divides RUV\triangle RUV into two identical triangles, UVWUVW and RVWRVW.

Each of these two triangles has 12\frac{1}{2} of 116\frac{1}{16} or 132\frac{1}{32} of the area of PQR\triangle PQR.
Since the area of STU\triangle STU is 18\frac{1}{8} of the area of PQR\triangle PQR, and the area of UVW\triangle UVW is 132\frac{1}{32} of the area of PQR\triangle PQR, then the total fraction of PQR\triangle PQR that is shaded is 18+132=4+132\frac{1}{8}+\frac{1}{32}=\frac{4+1}{32} or 532\frac{5}{32}.

Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track puts 2,444 problems in a working order, from Junior Challenge level to the IMO shortlist.

Source: CEMC, University of Waterloo, licensed CC-BY-NC-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.