Shortcut Trick
To find when multiple runners meet at the starting point for the first time, simply calculate the Least Common Multiple (LCM) of their individual lap times.
Required Time = LCM(280, 350, 420, 560)
We can factor out the common divisor 70 to make it easier:
Required Time = 70 × LCM(4, 5, 6, 8)
The LCM of 4, 5, 6, and 8 is 120.
Required Time = 70 × 120 = 8400 seconds.
∴ The correct answer is 8400 seconds.
Alternate Method
Given:
Time taken by Runner 1 (T1) = 280 s
Time taken by Runner 2 (T2) = 350 s
Time taken by Runner 3 (T3) = 420 s
Time taken by Runner 4 (T4) = 560 s
Start
Runner Times:
T1 = 280 s
T2 = 350 s
T3 = 420 s
T4 = 560 s
Meet Time = LCM
Concept Used:
The runners will meet exactly at the starting point when the elapsed time is a common multiple of all their individual lap times. The first time they meet is the Least Common Multiple (LCM) of these given times.
Calculations:
Finding the prime factorization of each given lap time:
⇒ 280 = 28 × 10 = 23 × 5 × 7
⇒ 350 = 35 × 10 = 2 × 52 × 7
⇒ 420 = 42 × 10 = 22 × 3 × 5 × 7
⇒ 560 = 56 × 10 = 24 × 5 × 7
The LCM is the product of the highest powers of all distinct prime factors involved (2, 3, 5, and 7):
⇒ LCM = 24 × 31 × 52 × 71
⇒ LCM = 16 × 3 × 25 × 7
⇒ LCM = (16 × 25) × (3 × 7)
⇒ LCM = 400 × 21
⇒ LCM = 8400
Therefore, all four runners will meet at the starting point together after 8400 seconds.
∴ The correct answer is 8400 seconds.
Additional Information
Meeting at the Starting Point
When multiple runners run around a circular track, the time they first meet exclusively at the starting point is always the LCM of the times taken by each to complete exactly one full lap.
First Meeting Anywhere on the Track
If runners are moving in the same direction, they meet anywhere on the track when the faster runner covers exactly one lap more than the slower runner. The formula used is Distance of Track ÷ Relative Speed.
Number of Distinct Meeting Points
If the ratio of their speeds in simplest integer form is a : b, they will meet at (a + b) distinct points on the track if running in opposite directions, and |a − b| distinct points if running in the same direction.