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Speedo

Age 16 to 18
Challenge Level Yellow star
  • Problem
  • Student Solutions
 

I drove my car along a stretch of road $500\textrm{ m}$ long. My car can accelerate uniformly from $0$ to $60\textrm{ km h}^{-1}$ in $10$ seconds. Its maximum speed is $100\textrm{ km h}^{-1}$. 


1. I looked at my speedometer three times on the journey and read the speeds $10\textrm{ km h}^{-1}$, then $50\textrm{ km h}^{-1}$, then $10\textrm{ km h}^{-1}$. What was the least possible time to travel along the stretch of road? What was the greatest possible time?

2. On the next $500\textrm{ m}$ of road, I looked at my speedometer twice: on one occasion it registered $50\textrm{ km h}^{-1}$, which was my maximum speed for the journey, and on another occasion is registered $10\textrm{ km h}^{-1}$, which was also my minimum speed for the journey.

What were the least and greatest possible times I spent on this section of road?

3. On the next $500\textrm{ m}$ section of road I alternately accelerate to $50\textrm{ km h}^{-1}$ and decelerate down to $10\textrm{ km h}^{-1}$.

What is the largest number of times I can record a speed of $10\textrm{ km h}^{-1}$?

4. On the final $500\textrm{ m}$ section of road, before I am arrested for dangerous driving, I alternately accelerate to $50\textrm{ km h}^{-1}$ and decelerate down to $10\textrm{ km h}^{-1}$.

What speed must I start the section of road to finish at $10\textrm{ km h}^{-1}$?
 

Don't forget that I start one section of road at the same speed that I finish the previous section.


 

 

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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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