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Running Race

Age 14 to 16
ShortChallenge Level Yellow starYellow starYellow star
Secondary curriculum
  • Problem
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Three race tracks made from semi-circles

All three runners finish at the same time.

Let the radius of $R$'s track be $r$ and let the radius of the first semicircle of $P$'s track be $p$; then the radius of the second circle of this track is $r-p$.

The total length of $P$'s track is $\pi p + \pi(r-p) = \pi r$, the same length as $R$'s track.

By a similar argument, the length of $Q$'s track is also $\pi r$.
This problem is taken from the UKMT Mathematical Challenges.
You can find more short problems, arranged by curriculum topic, in our short problems collection.

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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