Rabbit and Fox Riddle: Maximum Safe Distance for a Rabbit | Solution

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a rabbit's ability to detect a fox and the maximum distance the rabbit can safely venture from its hole, given that the fox runs twice as fast as the rabbit. The scenario includes considerations of relative positions and speeds.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the implications of the rabbit's position relative to the fox and the hole, questioning the initial assumptions about distances and speeds. There is an exploration of the relationship between the distances from the hole and the fox's position.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, raising questions about the setup and exploring different interpretations of the distances involved. Some guidance is emerging regarding the relationship between the distances, but no consensus has been reached.

Contextual Notes

There is uncertainty regarding the initial positions of the rabbit, the fox, and the hole, which affects the interpretation of the problem. The discussion also touches on the implications of the rabbit's detection range and the fox's speed.

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Homework Statement



Through a combination of sight, sound, and smell a rabbit can detect a fox at 60 meters. When the rabbit detects the fox, it runs immediately straight to its hole. If the fox can run twice as fast as the rabbit, what is the maximum distance from its hole that a rabbit can safely venture? Assume that the rabbit escapes if they arrive at the hole at the same time.

2. The attempt at a solution

2x + 60 = x
x = 60

Apparently this is incorrect
 
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Does the question state where the hole is compared to the fox and rabbit. Your result is correct if the rabbit is directly between the fox and the hole. but what if the hole was between the fox and rabbit?
 
I think I understand now. It would always have to be twice as close to the hole than the fox. A twenty meter radius would ensure the fox is always 40 meters away from the hole.
 
Last edited:
some_letters said:
I think I understand now. It would always have to be twice as close to the hole then the fox. A twenty meter radius would ensure the fox is always 40 meters away from the hole.
Is "twice as close" the same as "half as far" ?
 
I think so. why do you ask?
 

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