Question

4) Two cars leave the same parking lot, with one heading north and the other heading east.

After several minutes, the northbound car has traveled 8 kilometers, and the eastbound car
has traveled 2 kilometers. Measured in a straight line, how far apart are the two cars? If
necessary, round to the nearest tenth.
Video

Answer 1

8.2km

Explanation:

North and East are perpendicular directions;

If you illustrate the distances covered in each direction and join the two lines, it will form a right-angle triangle;

This means pythagoras applies:

(8)² + (2)² = 64 + 4 = 68

The distance apart is, therefore:

`√(68) = 8.2462112512`