Question

Nate rides his bike to school every day. From his home he rides 2.5 miles north, and then six miles west. If a straight line is drawn from Nate's house to the school, find the distance between these two locations.

Answer 1

By the Pythagorean Theorem, the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the side lengths squared, mathematically:

h^2=x^2+y^2

h^2=6^2+2.5^2

h^2=36+6.25

h^2=42.25

h=√(42.25) miles

h=6.5 miles

Answer 2

use Pythagorean Theorem

2.5^2 + 6^2 = x^2

6.25 +36 = 42.25

x= sqrt(42.25) = 6.5 miles