1951 AMC 12 Problem 28

Attempt Problem 28 of the 1951 AMC 12 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1951 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

28.

The pressure PP of wind on a sail varies jointly as the area AA of the sail and the square of the velocity VV of the wind. The pressure on a square foot is 11 pound when the velocity is 1616 miles per hour. The velocity of the wind when the pressure on a square yard is 3636 pounds is:
102310\dfrac23 mph
9696 mph
3232 mph
1131\dfrac13 mph
1616 mph
Answer: C
Concepts:ratio and proportionunit conversion
Small hint:
Use P=kAV2P=kAV^2 and remember that one square yard is nine square feet
Big hint:
The first condition gives 1=k(1)(162)1=k(1)(16^2)
Solution:
Write P=kAV2.P=kAV^2. From 1=k(1)(162),1=k(1)(16^2), we get k=1256.k=\frac{1}{256}. A square yard has area 99 square feet, so 36=1256⋅9V2. 36=\frac1{256}\cdot9V^2. Thus V2=1024V^2=1024 and the positive speed is V=32V=32 mph.
Thus, the correct answer is C.
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