Image
Carl and Alvin stand at points C and A, respectively, as represented in the figure above (not drawn to scale), with distances labeled in feet. Carl starts running toward point B at a rate of 400 ft/min, and Alvin starts running toward point B at a rate of 500 ft/min. When Alvin reaches point B, he turns around and runs in the opposite direction until he reaches point A, whereupon he reverses his direction again and runs toward point B. If Alvin repeats this pattern indefinitely, how far will the two runners be from point B when they meet? Assume that Alvin is able to reverse his direction instantaneously.
A. 20 feet
B. 31\(\frac{2}{5}\) feet
C. 35 feet
D. 47\(\frac{7}{9}\) feet
E. 59 feet
Let Sc = Speed of Carl = 400ft/min, Sa = Speed of Alvin = 500ft/min.
Time taken by Carl to reach point A = \(\frac{2200}{400} = 5.5 min\)
Now, in same time how much Alvin traveled = 500 * 5.5 = 2750 ft
Also, distance AB = 70ft,
Number of turns Alvin took while covering 2750 ft = 2750/70 = 39.28 where 0.28 equates to 20ft(as remainder)
Since Alvin starts running towards B he takes 1st turn at B, 2nd at A, then 3rd at B and so on...
Thus, every odd number denotes a turn taken by Alvin at B and every even denotes at A. So, 39 denotes Alvin's direction(opposite) is towards A.
As Alvin already covered 20ft from B towards A, distance between Carl and Alvin = 70 - 20 = 50ft(let's call this point as X) when Carl is at A.
Time taken to cover 50ft(distance AX) = \(\frac{50}{400+500} = \frac{5}{90}\) min
Distance covered by Carl from A to meet Alvin = \(\frac{5}{90} * 400 = \frac{200}{9}\) ft
Hence distance between point of meeting of Carl & Alvin and point B = \(70 - \frac{200}{9} = 47\frac{7}{9}\)
Answer D.