Question

A city has streets laid out in a square grid, with each block 135 mm long. If you drive north for three blocks, then west for two blocks, how far are you from your starting point? Express your answer in meters.

Answer 1

Total distance traveled from the starting point = 487 mm (or) 0.487 m

Solution:

Given data:

Length of each block = 135 mm

Distance traveled towards North = three blocks

= 135 × 3

= 405

Distance traveled towards North = 405 mm

Distance traveled towards West = two blocks

= 135 × 2

= 270

Distance traveled towards West = 270 mm

Total distance traveled

`=\sqrt{\text{Distance traveled in North}^2+\text{Distance traveled in West}^2}`

`=√(405^2+270^2)`

`=√(236925)`

`=135√(13)`

= 487 mm (approximately)

Total distance traveled from the starting point = 487 mm

Let us convert mm to m.

1 m = 1000 mm

487 mm = 487 ÷ 1000 = 0.487 m

Total distance traveled from the starting point = 0.487 m