Word problem

Question

 

Two cars leave an intersection. One car travels north; the other east. When the car traveling north had gone 12 miles, the distance between the cars was 4 miles more than the distance traveled by the car heading east. How far had the eastbound car traveled?

Please show me step by step and not just the answer. 

Answer 1

Consider this as a right angle traingle problem.

 

Distance travel by Northbound car represent vertical side of traingle = 12 miles

 

Distance traveled  Eastbound car  represent base of traingle = x miles

 

Distance between the care is represented by hypotenuse of the triangle = x + 4 miles

 

Apply Pythagoras Theroem

 

12² + x² = (x+4)²

 

solve for x

 

144 + x² = x² + 16 + 8x

 

8x = 128

 

x = 16 miles = distance traveled by east bound car

:)