Suppose a boat travels due north for 17 miles, then heads northeast for 8 miles. How far from the original starting position is the boat??

Question

anonymous · Answer

Please help include drawing to help me understand

anonymous · Answer

136 miltipliy 17 and 8

anonymous · Answer

or substract 17-8 and get 9

jim766 · Answer

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anonymous · Answer

how u do that

anonymous · Answer

Make it into a right triangle, then use the Pythagorean Theorem.  He went north (17 +4sqrt2) miles, and east 4sqrt2 miles.  Suppose he started from the origin, so the end point is (17+4sqrt2,4sqrt2).  Now use the distance formula.

anonymous · Answer

SO he is 9 miles away from his original point

anonymous · Answer

Way more than that.  His first leg took him seventeen miles, then he went farther.

anonymous · Answer

By the way, the 4sqrt2 number comes from the relationship of the sides on an isosceles right triangle.

anonymous · Answer

if u are saying he went 17 miles then went and extra 8 then 17+8=25

anonymous · Answer

That isn't the question.

anonymous · Answer

Its asking how far away from the starting point he is.

anonymous · Answer

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jim766 · Answer

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