Question

You start driving south for 16 miles, turn left, and drive east for another 12 miles. At the end of driving, what is your straight line distance from your starting point? Round to the nearest tenth of a mile.

Answer 1

20

Explanation:

(16)2+(12)2=

c2\,\,c^{2}c2

Use the Pythagorean Theorem.

256+144=256+144=256+144=

c2\,\,c^{2}c2

Simplify.

400=400=400=

c2\,\,c^{2}c2

Simplify.

±400=\pm\sqrt{400}=±400

​=

c2\,\,\sqrt{c^{2}}c2

​

Square root both sides.

20=20=20=

c\,\,cc

Simplify. Ignore negative root, as length must be positive.