Math Problem Statement
Nemo Sum walks from point A to point B and then back again, taking the exact same path in the opposite direction. Nemo always walks in one of the cardinal directions, i.e. north, south, east, or west, but not always at the same speed. For reasons known only to higher powers, Nemo always walks at 4 km/h when going North or South; going East, Nemo always walks at 3 km/h; and going West, Nemo always walks at 6 km/h.
Solution
In this scenario, Nemo Sum walks between points A and B, taking the same path in both directions. His walking speed depends on the direction:
- North/South: 4 km/h
- East: 3 km/h
- West: 6 km/h
To analyze Nemo’s motion, we can approach it step by step:
1. Speed and Distance Breakdown
Each segment of the walk can be broken down into four possible directional components: North, South, East, and West. Depending on the distances covered in each direction, we can compute the time taken to walk each leg of the journey.
Let’s assume:
- d_N is the distance walked North (in kilometers)
- d_S is the distance walked South (in kilometers)
- d_E is the distance walked East (in kilometers)
- d_W is the distance walked West (in kilometers)
Since Nemo walks from point A to point B and then returns, the total distance walked in each direction is doubled for the round trip.
2. Time Taken
The time taken in each direction is calculated by the formula: where:
- is the time,
- is the distance,
- is the speed.
For each segment of the journey:
- Going North/South: The speed is 4 km/h, so the time is .
- Going East: The speed is 3 km/h, so the time is .
- Going West: The speed is 6 km/h, so the time is .
The total time taken for the round trip would involve summing up the time taken in each direction for both going and returning. Therefore, the total time would be:
3. Total Distance
The total distance walked is:
This provides the basic breakdown of how Nemo’s walking speed and time are related to the distances covered in each direction.
Follow-up
Do you have any specific values or further details to calculate for Nemo's journey? I can help with solving time, distance, or optimizing the path.
Here are 5 related questions for further exploration:
- What would be the total time taken if Nemo walks 2 km North, 1 km East, and 3 km West?
- How would the time change if Nemo increased his speed going North?
- What is the fastest path Nemo could take to minimize the time?
- How would Nemo’s total time change if he had to stop and rest at the midpoint?
- Can you calculate the average speed for the entire journey?
Tip: Average speed for a round trip can be tricky since it depends on the time spent in each direction, not just the total distance.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Speed
Distance
Time
Directional Motion
Formulas
t = d/v (Time = Distance/Speed)
Total Time for round trip: T_total = 2 * (d_N/4 + d_S/4 + d_E/3 + d_W/6)
Total Distance for round trip: D_total = 2 * (d_N + d_S + d_E + d_W)
Theorems
-
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 9-12