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The question is asking to get the total feet travelled after 3 full bounces. "... how many total feet will the ball have traveled after 3 full bounces..."
WIll the answer not be A ? ...KarishmaB chetan2u
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Bunuel
A basketball is dropped from a height of 20 feet. If it bounces back up to a height that is exactly half of its previous height, and it stops bouncing after hitting the ground for the fourth time, then how many total feet will the ball have traveled after 3 full bounces.

(A) 50
(B) 55
(C) 60
(D) 75
(E) 80

Since there are only 3 bounces involved, let's just list and add the distances.

Drop 20 feet
HITS GROUND 1ST TIME
Rise 10 feet
Drop 10 feet
HITS GROUND 2ND TIME
Rise 5 feet
Drop 5 feet
HITS GROUND 3RD TIME
Rise 2.5 feet
Drop 2.5 feet
HITS GROUND 4TH TIME

Total distance travelled = 20 + 10 + 10 + 5 + 5 + 2.5 + 2.5 = 55

Answer: B
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The question is asking to get the total feet travelled after 3 full bounces. "... how many total feet will the ball have traveled after 3 full bounces..."
WIll the answer not be A ? ...KarishmaB chetan2u
BrentGMATPrepNow
Bunuel
A basketball is dropped from a height of 20 feet. If it bounces back up to a height that is exactly half of its previous height, and it stops bouncing after hitting the ground for the fourth time, then how many total feet will the ball have traveled after 3 full bounces.

(A) 50
(B) 55
(C) 60
(D) 75
(E) 80

Since there are only 3 bounces involved, let's just list and add the distances.

Drop 20 feet
HITS GROUND 1ST TIME
Rise 10 feet
Drop 10 feet
HITS GROUND 2ND TIME
Rise 5 feet
Drop 5 feet
HITS GROUND 3RD TIME
Rise 2.5 feet
Drop 2.5 feet
HITS GROUND 4TH TIME

Total distance travelled = 20 + 10 + 10 + 5 + 5 + 2.5 + 2.5 = 55

Answer: B

A full bounce will start when the ball touches the ground and end when it comes back to the ground.
3 full bounces will complete on the 4th hit of the ball to the ground.
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Isn't 3 full bounces , total distance 52.5 ?
1st = 20+ 10 =30
2nd= 10 + 5=15
3rd = 5+2.5=7.5

That is 30+15+7.5 = 52.5 ?

How is it 55
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nikchopra
Isn't 3 full bounces , total distance 52.5 ?
1st = 20+ 10 =30
2nd= 10 + 5=15
3rd = 5+2.5=7.5

That is 30+15+7.5 = 52.5 ?

How is it 55

A "full" bounce means the ball returns to the ground. So the fourth hit of the ball on ground is counted too. First time the ball hits the ground, the first bounce starts. Ends at the second time the ball hits the ground and the second bounce starts at this time. That ends when the ball hits the ground third time and the third bounce starts. It ends when the ball hits the ground the fourth time.
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nikchopra
Isn't 3 full bounces , total distance 52.5 ?
1st = 20+ 10 =30
2nd= 10 + 5=15
3rd = 5+2.5=7.5

That is 30+15+7.5 = 52.5 ?

How is it 55
You are missing the distance ball will travel to reach the 4th bounce, after 3rd bounce 2.5 up then 2.5 down then 4th bounce.
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