The bushfires here can be pretty frightening. As I write this, I can see one glowing in the night sky behind me, not too far from camp. In order to get my mind off it, I’ve come up with this little math problem for you to puzzle over:
Bushfires often start in one location and spread outward in a widening circle. The flames can spread with the wind at a speed of up to 50 kilometers per hour!
a) If the distance from the center of the fire to it edge is 200 meters, what circular area has the fire covered?
b) If the fire spreads out from the center as fast as possible (50 kph), how long will it take for the fire to cover a circular area of 100 kilometers?