Distance word problem!

Question

Roberto and Sherona began hiking from their campground. Roberto headed south while Sherona headed east. Roberta walked 12 mi and Sherona walked 5 mi. How far apart were they when they stopped walking?

Answer 1

The distance Roberta and Sherona walked represents the legs of a right angle triangle with 90 degree angle

at the point they started. 

 

Let  a = 12 mi the distance Roberta walked

      b = 5 mi   the distance Sherona walked

 

the distance between them is the hypotenus of the right angle triangle found by the phythogoros theorem

 

C = √(a²+b²) = √(12mi)²+(5mi)² = √169mi² = 13 mi 

Answer 2

Their separation distance is the hypotenuse of a right triangle.

 

d = √(12² + 5²) mi = √169 mi = 13 mi