Question 0421

Arithmetic and Geometric Progressions (APs, GPs)
2021 Paper 2 Question 4 Variant

Question

A gym has three training courses: Apex course, Cheetah course and Guerilla course. In each of the programme, members run 10 lengths of a straight running track. Length 1 is done away from the starting point, length 2 towards the starting point, length 3 away from the starting point, and so on.
For the Apex course, the time taken to run the first length is 45{45} seconds and the time taken to run the last length is 20{20} seconds. The times taken for each of the 10{10} lengths are in arithmetic progression.
(a)
Find the total time taken to run 10{10} lengths in the Apex course.
[2]
In the Cheetah course, the time taken to run each of the 10{10} lengths is constant at 20{20} seconds.
In the Guerilla course, the time taken to run the first length is 20{20} seconds and the time taken to run the last length is 45{45} seconds. The times taken for each of the 10{10} lengths are in geometric progression.
Ellie runs 30{30} lengths. She first runs 10{10} lengths at the Apex course, followed by 10{10} lengths at the Cheetah course and finally 10{10} lengths at the Guerilla course.
Each length of the straight running track is 100 m.{100 \textrm{ m}.}
(b)
Find Ellie's average speed for her run of 30{30} lengths.
[5]
(c)
Determine whether, exactly 9{9} minutes after she starts to run, Ellie is running away from or towards her starting point.
[2]

Answer