Thursday, June 18, 2009

Correct Answer to Latest Gyro Contest

Here is the answer to the Gyro problem. It is actually pretty easy.

The NY train speed it 36 mph.
The LA train speed is 53 mph
The distance is 2784.12 miles.

You need to solve this problem as a function of time.

x = the unknown amount of time in the unit of hours

(36mph) (X) + (53mph)(X) = 2784.12 miles

Which simplifies to: (89mph)X = 2784.12 miles

Divide both sides by 89 miles per hour

And you are left with X = (2784.12 miles) / ((89mph)

The units cancel out to leave only hours or 31.2822 hours

If you take x multiply by the speed of the NY train you get the mile marker from NY that the trains will meet: (31.2822 hours) x (36 mph) = 1126.16 miles
Or I would accept: (31.2822 hours) x (53 mph) 1657.96 miles from LA.

Looking at a map you find that the nearest major city is:
Kansas City, Missouri (1191.66 miles from New York and 1582.38 miles from LA)
NOT Kansas City, Kansas (1195.25 miles from New York and 1580.76 miles from LA)

Let’s take a look at what time it would be. Obviously the time would be 31.2822 hours after the trains left. That breaks down to 31 hours 16 minutes 56 seconds.
Adding that to the departure at 2:00 p.m. would be 9:16:56 EST but since this happens in the Central Time Zone another hour needs to be subtracted off that time, so the final answer is 8:16:56 the next day.

Any questions?

5 comments:

julie said...

So Tony still won right. Well since he is coming in the end of July, let's plan a Gyro run when he is in town and you can pay both of us off on your bets.

Rickie Davies said...

Hold on a second there Julie. I didn't lose any bets. You won a contest. Big difference.

When is the first volleyball match in the pool? Or did I miss it already?

julie said...

Well we have not set any dates as of yet. Our first open weekend day is the 27th. I am open to having a gathering for all who wish to play

Rickie Davies said...

If the water is warm, I could be down. Maybe we can set up a net across the hot tub?

julie said...

Water is upper 70's. Eggeners and my Parents are coming over on Sunday for father's day to swim and grill out- come on over if you wish