A person walks 3 km north and then 4 km east. What is the straight-line distance

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Question: A person walks 3 km north and then 4 km east. What is the straight-line distance from the starting point? (2021)

Options:

Correct Answer: 5 km

Exam Year: 2021

Solution:

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

A person walks 3 km north and then 4 km east. What is the straight-line distance from the starting point? (2021)

A person walks 3 km north and then 4 km east. What is the straight-line distance from the starting point? (2021)

Step 1: Understand that the person walks 3 km north and then 4 km east, forming a right triangle.
Step 2: Identify the two sides of the triangle: one side is 3 km (north) and the other side is 4 km (east).
Step 3: Use the Pythagorean theorem, which states that 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, and 4², which is 16.
Step 6: Add the two results: 9 + 16 = 25.
Step 7: Take the square root of 25, which is 5.
Step 8: Conclude that the straight-line distance from the starting point is 5 km.

Pythagorean Theorem – A mathematical principle used to calculate the length of the sides of a right triangle, stating that the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.