2. Anita, Kieran, and Mitchell form a team to participate in a mixed cycling and running race, which takes place on a 3-kilometer circular track. It is known that each person's running speed is 5 kilometers per hour, and their cycling speed is 20 kilometers per hour. The starting point of the track is marked by a flag, and the three start from the flag with two bicycles.
(a) Both cycling and running are done in a clockwise direction, and each person must complete one lap. The three must arrive at the flag simultaneously. How can they complete the race in 18 minutes?
(b) All rules are the same, but each person must complete two laps. Can the team complete the race in less than 36 minutes? If so, indicate how to do it; otherwise, explain why it is not possible.
2. (a) It is easy to see that each person takes 12 minutes to run 1 km and 3 minutes to cycle 1 km. At the start, let Anita and Kemai cycle, while Mitchell runs. When they reach the 1 km mark, Kemai gives the bike to Mitchell and starts running. When they reach the 2 km mark, Anita gives the bike to Kemai and starts running. This way, each person runs 5 km, taking 12 minutes, and cycles 2 km, taking 6 minutes, totaling 18 minutes to reach the finish line simultaneously.
(b) The team can complete the race in 27 minutes. At the start, Anita and Kemai cycle, while Mitchell runs. When the cyclists overtake Mitchell, they have already traveled 3 km more than Mitchell, as their speed is 4 times that of Mitchell, so Mitchell has just run 1 km. At this point, Kemai gives the bike to Mitchell and starts running. At the next 1 km mark, Anita leaves the bike for Kemai and starts running. This way, each person runs 1 km, taking 12 minutes, and cycles 5 km, taking 15 minutes, totaling 27 minutes to reach the finish line simultaneously.