Question

If a pen on a flat-bed plotter moves 4.5 cm to the right and then 6.0 cm forward to a draw the two (2) sides of a right triangle

drawn to return to the start position? Enter your answer to the nearest tenth of an cm. Do NOT include units with your answer

Answer 1

Rounded to the nearest tenth, the length of the hypotenuse, which represents the distance traveled to return to the starting position, is approximately 7.5 cm.

To calculate the length of the hypotenuse of the right triangle formed by these movements, you can use the Pythagorean theorem.

Given:

Movement to the right = 4.5 cm

Forward movement = 6.0 cm

The hypotenuse, which represents the distance traveled to return to the starting position, can be found using the theorem:

Hypotenuse^2 =Base^2 +Height^2

Here, the base is the movement to the right (4.5 cm) and the height is the forward movement (6.0 cm).

Hypotenuse^2 =4.5^2 +6.0^2

Hypotenuse^2 =20.25+36

Hypotenuse^2 =56.25

Now, to find the length of the hypotenuse:

Hypotenuse= 56.25

​Hypotenuse≈7.5

Rounded to the nearest tenth, the length of the hypotenuse, which represents the distance traveled to return to the starting position, is approximately 7.5 cm.