1964 AMC 12 Problem 26

Attempt Problem 26 of the 1964 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 1964 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

26.

In a ten-mile race First beats Second by 22 miles and First beats Third by 44 miles. If the runners maintain constant speeds throughout the race, by how many miles does Second beat Third?
22
2142\dfrac14
2122\dfrac12
2342\dfrac34
33
Answer: C
Concepts:rateratio and proportiondistance rate and timerelative speed
Small hint:
When First finishes, Second and Third have run 88 and 66 miles
Big hint:
Compare Third’s distance when Second completes 1010 miles
Solution:
Relative to First’s speed, Second’s speed is 810=45\frac{8}{10}=\frac{4}{5} and Third’s is 610=35.\frac{6}{10}=\frac{3}{5}. Thus Third runs 34\frac{3}{4} as fast as Second. When Second finishes 1010 miles, Third has run 10(34)=71210(\frac{3}{4})=7\dfrac12 miles, so Second wins by 2122\dfrac12 miles.
Therefore, the correct answer is C.
LIVE by Po-Shen Loh
Programs

LIVE Classes

Self-Paced Classes

Stars

Scholarship

About Us

Who Is Po-Shen Loh?

Email Contact

Newsletter

Jobs

Become a Star

For a more Thought Full world.

© 2026 Expii, Inc.