A person walks 3 km towards the north and then 4 km towards the east. What is the straight-line distance from the starting point? (2020)

1 question

1 item

Q: A person walks 3 km towards the north and then 4 km towards the east. What is the straight-line distance from the starting point? (2020)

Solution: Using Pythagoras theorem, distance = √(3² + 4²) = √(9 + 16) = √25 = 5 km.

Steps: 9

Step 1: Understand that the person walks 3 km north and then 4 km east.
Step 2: Visualize the path as a right triangle where one side is 3 km (north) and the other side is 4 km (east).
Step 3: Use the Pythagorean theorem, which states that in a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse (the straight-line distance) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.
Step 4: Write the formula: distance = √(3² + 4²).
Step 5: Calculate 3², which is 9.
Step 6: Calculate 4², which is 16.
Step 7: Add the two results: 9 + 16 = 25.
Step 8: Take the square root of 25, which is 5.
Step 9: Conclude that the straight-line distance from the starting point is 5 km.