Owen, John and Tom started walking at the same time from the same starting point round a circular track. Tom walked in the clockwise direction. Owen and John walked in an anti-clockwise direction. Tom took 5 min to complete each round. He met Owen after every 3 minutes. He met John after every 4 minutes. The three friends kept to their respective speeds throughout their walk.

1. How many rounds did Tom complete in 1 h?
2. When Tom and Owen met again at the starting point after 1 h, John had completed 1.5 km. Find the circumference of the circular track in metres.

(a)
1 h = 60 min

Number of rounds that Tom completed in 1 h
= 60 ÷ 5
= 12

(b)
Tom took 5 min to complete 1 round
1 min = ¹₅ of circular track = 1 u
5 min = ⁵₅ of circular track = 5 u

Tom's distance is the repeated identity.
Make Tom's distance the same.

Tom's distance : Owen's distance
3 : 5 - 3
3 : 2

Tom's distance : John's distance
4 : 5 - 4
4 : 1

Tom	Owen	John
3x4	2x4
4x3		1x3
12	8	3

The distance of Tom is the repeated identity. 
LCM of 3 and 4 = 12

In 1 h
Tom's rounds : Owen's rounds : John's rounds
12 : 8 : 3

Distance that John completed in 1 h = 1.5 km

3 rounds = 1.5 km = 1500 m

1 round = 1500 ÷ 3 = 500 m

Circumference of the circular track = 500 m

Answer(s): (a) 12; (b) 500 m