Edna and Nancy leave the house of a common friend at the same time and walk for 4 hours. Edna walks due east at the average rate of 4 kilometers per hour and Nancy walks due north at the average rate of 3 kilometers per hour. What is the straight-line distance between them in kilometers, at the end of the 4 hours?

Question

bobpursley · Answer

on walked 12km, and one walked 16km at right angles. Isn't this a 3-4-5 right triangle?

Sasha · Answer

Yes, it probably is, but I have a hard time solving problems that involve 3-4-5 triangles or anything similar to that.

Reiny · Answer

Wow, Edna and Nancy walk for 16 km and 12 km??
Can't be in 2008, they would get in their SUV's for sure, lol

I see a right-angled triangle with sides 12 and 16, where you have to find the hypotenuse.
Think Pythagoras !

Sasha · Answer

lol, thank you. I understand the problem now.

dana · Answer

12