How far is Ms. Smith from the grocery store?

Question

Ms. Smith leaves the grocery store and drives 5.5 miles east. She then turns south and drives another 11 miles. 

Answer 1

Hi Meghan,

 

Ms. Smith's route forms a right triangle with legs of 5.5 mi and 11 miles. The length of the hypotenuse is her distance from the grocery store. Let that distance be x.

Using the Pythagorean Theorem, 

(5.5)^2 + 11^2 = x^2

30.25 + 121 = x^2

x = 12.3 mi (rounded to the nearest tenth)

Answer 2

d = √(5.5² + 11²)