a football team snaps the ball from their 10 yard line. The quarterback throws to a receiver who lined up 20 yards to the right of the quarterback and ran straight downfield. If the pass was 25 yards, how far downfield was the receiver when he caught the ball?
2007-11-16 13:57:32 · 2 answers · asked by sandee 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
It's a right triangle:
The bottom leg is 20 yards. The hypotenuse is 25 yards.
If you remember 3-4-5 triangles, you'll know the answer is 15 yards. If not, use the Pythagorean theorem:
a² + b² = c²
a = 20 yards to the right
b = additional distance down the field
c = 25 yard pass diagonally.
20² + b² = 25²
400 + b² = 625
b² = 225 = 15²
b = 15
But he started from the 10 yard line, so he caught it 15 yards further on the *25 yard line*
I drew you a nice diagram to help explain it...
2007-11-16 14:02:59 · answer #1 · answered by Puzzling 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its 15... 25^2-20^2=X^2
225=X^2
X=15
final answer... 25 yrd line
2007-11-16 14:03:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋