Question

Now, we will apply those definitions.

A hungry bunny rabbit hops 20 meters north and then turns and hops 8 meters west in search of tasty flowers to eat.
What is the bunny's distance? Show your work by clicking the "formula editor" button (square root symbol).

(1 point)

Answer 1

To find the total distance the bunny rabbit hops, we'll break it down into two segments using the Pythagorean theorem, since the bunny travels north and then west, forming a right triangle.

1. The first hop is 20 meters north.
2. The second hop is 8 meters west.

To find the total distance \(d\) from the starting point to the ending point, we can visualize this as a right triangle where one leg is 20 meters and the other leg is 8 meters.

Using the Pythagorean theorem:
\[
d = \sqrt{a^2 + b^2}
\]
where:
- \(a = 20\) meters (the distance north)
- \(b = 8\) meters (the distance west)

Now, substituting in the values:
\[
d = \sqrt{(20)^2 + (8)^2}
\]
\[
d = \sqrt{400 + 64}
\]
\[
d = \sqrt{464}
\]
\[
d \approx 21.54 \, \text{meters}
\]

Thus, the bunny's distance from the starting point to the ending point is approximately 21.54 meters.