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2009 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 20

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Problem

Andrea and Lauren are 20 kilometers apart. They bike toward one another with Andrea traveling three times as fast as Lauren, and the distance between them decreasing at a rate of 1 kilometer per minute. After 5 minutes, Andrea stops biking because of a flat tire and waits for Lauren. After how many minutes from the time they started to bike does Lauren reach Andrea?

\mathrm{(A)}\ 20\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 30\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 55\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 65\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 80

Solution

Let their speeds in kilometers per hour be v_A and v_L. We know that v_A=3v_L and that v_A+v_L=60. (The second equation follows from the fact that 1\,\unit{\rm km/min} = 60\,\unit{\rm km/h}.) This solves to v_A=45 and v_L=15.

As the distance decreases at a rate of 1 kilometer per minute, after 5 minutes the distance between them will be 20-5=15 kilometers.

From this point on, only Lauren will be riding her bike. As there are 15 kilometers remaining and v_L=15, she will need exactly an hour to get to Andrea. Therefore the total time in minutes is 5+60 = \boxed{65}.

See Also

2009 AMC 10A (ProblemsResources)
Preceded by
Problem 19
Followed by
Problem 21
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Want to learn how to tackle those tough AMC/AIME/Olympiad algebra problems? Check out Art of Problem Solving's Intermediate Algebra by Richard Rusczyk and Mathew Crawford. Over 1600 problems!
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