We had a number of correct answers to this problem. Several solutions used a spreadsheet, for example the one shown below is from an anonymous solver. We also received a solution from someone who has done some calculus and was able to solve the problem using this approach. I have included this solution at the end for those of you who are interested.

Remember that however you approach a problem, we want to see how you arrived at your answers. 

The solution below was found using a spreadsheet, but you might have obtained the same result using a calculator and carrying out a standard "trial and improvement" process.

Catherine, Ellean, Anna from The Mount School, York also added the following comment which means they were really thinking about the numbers and the context...

How fast do you think you could run and swim in m/s? 

 

Andisheh of Springfield School offered the following explanation (well done):

Andisheh attached a spreadsheet and I have used this and several other solutions employing a spreadsheet to create the extract below: solvers were able to find that the minimum time occurred with a distance between 76m and 77m and then worked with one and then two decimal places to obtain greater accuracy.

"Swim Distance" was calculated using Pythagoras' theorem:

The right-angled triangle will have sides of 50m (the distance from the beach) and $x$m, which is 100m (the distance along the beach) minus the distance run. 

$$\mbox{Swim}^2 = 50^2 + x^2 $$ 

$$\mbox{Distance swum} = \sqrt{50^2 + x^2}$$ 

The times were then found in seconds by dividing the distances by the speeds and the total time just required the two times to be added together. 

 

Image

This final solution was sent in by an anonymous solver who used calculus (a branch of mathematics normally met for the first time at advanced level in the UK). It is a neat solution but this high level mathematics was certainly not required!

Image

Let $T$ be the total time.

Let $t_1$ be the time spent swimming. 

Let $t_2$ be the time spent running.

By Pythagoras' theorem 

\begin{eqnarray} PC^2 &=& 50^2 + x^2 \\ PC&=& \sqrt{50^2 + x^2} \end{eqnarray} 

So for the total time: 

$$ T = \frac{\sqrt{x^2 + 50^2}}{3} + \frac{100-x}{7}$$ 

$$\frac{dT}{dx} = \frac{x(x^2 + 50^2)^\frac{-1}{2}}{3}- \frac{1}{7}$$ 

$$\frac{dT}{dx} = 0 \mbox{ when } \frac{1}{7} = \frac{x(x^2 + 50^2)^\frac{-1}{2}}{3}$$ Important question to think about: 

How would you check that this is a minimum value?

Solving the equation above for $x$ 

\begin{eqnarray} 3(x^2+50^2)^\frac{1}{2} &=& 7x\\ 9(x^2+50^2)&=& 49x^2\\ x&=& 23.7 \mbox{ (1dp)} \end{eqnarray} 

Chris will need to land at the point on the beach 76.3m from the family.