the Harris and Keller families decide to go to the movie theater together. The Harris family lived 3 km west and 2 km north of the movie theatre. The Keller family lives 4 km east and 3 km south of the movie theatre. How far away do the two families live?
2007-12-06 12:28:37 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
Think of the movie theater as the origin (0,0) and north/south as the y-axis and east/west as the x axis. So the Harris family would be at the point (-3,2) and the Keller family would be at the point (4,-3). Now either graph the points and draw a triangle and use the triangle to solve for the distance, or use the distance formula, which is:
d = sqrt[(x2 - x1)^2 + (y2 - y1)^2]
So plug in the numbers, you get:
d = sqrt[(4 - -3)^2) + (-3 - 2)^2]
d = sqrt[49 + 25]
d = sqrt(74)
sqrt(74) km
2007-12-06 12:39:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I assume you mean how far apart do the two families live.
Turn it into a right triangle problem.
One lives 3 km West, the other 4 km East for a total distance of one leg being 7 km.
One lives 2 km North, the other 3 km South which makes the other leg 5 km.
A line from one home to the other is the hypotenuse of the right triangle. Apply Pythagorean Theorem and the answer is 8.6023 plus a lot more numbers km.
If you are looking for each home's distance from the theater you will have two triangles to solve.
Remember, the sum of the square of the sides equals the square of the hypotenuse. So square both legs, add them together and extract the square root of that number.
2007-12-06 20:49:38 · answer #2 · answered by gimpalomg 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As another helpful person already said, it's probably useful to think of this problem using a grid. Also, remember *which* distance you are trying to calculate. Is it the distance one that goes along a path that is a combination of two shorter paths added together, with a bend in the path, or is the distance a straight line? That will affect your answer. Good luck.
Oh, I still use the Pythagorean today, even in daily life. I used it the other day - out of curiosity - trying to figure out a sea voyage's distance.
Now I have a question for you. Do you know the starting point and ending point for the longest possible *straight-line* ("great circle") voyage over the ocean? It's a surprising and amazing path. Try to get it yourself first without any help - just by using a globe. Whoever figured this out was clever and the answer will bend your mind a bit. (HINT: The voyage involves a few tight passages, including one between a large island and the African continent.)
2007-12-06 20:48:03 · answer #3 · answered by life_1s_an_adventure 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Draw a couple of right angle triangles then use Pythagorus Therom (a2 + b2 + = c2)
Thats what I'm thinking anyway...hope that helps...
2007-12-06 20:32:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
draw a grid and place them where they go
2007-12-06 20:31:12 · answer #5 · answered by homestar_baleted 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hint: rise over run
2007-12-06 20:33:13 · answer #6 · answered by Alan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋