2023 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 11

Problem

NASA’s Perseverance Rover was launched on July $30,$ $2020.$ After traveling $292{,}526{,}838$ miles, it landed on Mars in Jezero Crater about $6.5$ months later. Which of the following is closest to the Rover’s average interplanetary speed in miles per hour?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 6{,}000 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 12{,}000 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 60{,}000 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 120{,}000 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 600{,}000$

Solution 1

Note that $6.5$ months is approximately $6.5\cdot30\cdot24$ hours. Therefore, the speed (in miles per hour) is \[\frac{292{,}526{,}838}{6.5\cdot30\cdot24} \approx \frac{300{,}000{,}000}{6.5\cdot30\cdot24} = \frac{10{,}000{,}000}{6.5\cdot24} \approx \frac{10{,}000{,}000}{6.4\cdot25} = \frac{10{,}000{,}000}{160} = 62500 \approx \boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 60{,}000}.\] As the answer choices are far apart from each other, we can ensure that the approximation is correct.

~apex304, SohumUttamchandani, MRENTHUSIASM

Solution 2

Note that $292{,}526{,}838 \approx 300{,}000{,}000$ miles. We also know that $6.5$ months is approximately $6.5\cdot30\cdot24$ hours. Now, we can calculate the speed in miles per hour, which we find is about \[\dfrac{300{,}000{,}000}{6.5\cdot30\cdot24}=\dfrac{10{,}000{,}000}{6.5\cdot24}=\dfrac{10{,}000{,}000}{13\cdot12}=\dfrac{10{,}000{,}000}{156}\approx\dfrac{10{,}000{,}000}{150}\approx\dfrac{200{,}000}{3}\approx\boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 60{,}000}.\] ~MathFun1000

Video Solution by SpreadTheMathLove

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJqTqVLEFnI

Video Solution (Animated)

https://youtu.be/hwR2VM9tHJ0

~Star League (https://starleague.us)

Video Solution by Magic Square

https://youtu.be/-N46BeEKaCQ?t=4695

Video Solution by Interstigation

https://youtu.be/1bA7fD7Lg54?t=727

(Creative Thinking) Video Solution

https://youtu.be/AKJ4XmfYEsA

~Education the Study of everything

Video Solution by harungurcan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIGy79w1H8o&t=707s

~harungurcan

See Also

2023 AMC 8 (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 10
Followed by
Problem 12
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All AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

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