Question

A shortstop is standing in the base path between second and third base when she fields the ball. She is 30 feet from second base and needs to make the throw to first base. Assuming the field is square, how far does she need to throw the ball? Round your answer to the nearest tenth.

(1 point)

Answer 1

Take the diamond as a 90 ft × 90 ft square. Put second base at (90,90), third at (0,90) and first at (90,0). The fielder is 30 ft from second toward third, at (60,90). Distance to first:

d = sqrt[(90−60)^2 + (0−90)^2] = sqrt[30^2 + 90^2] = sqrt(9000) = 30√10 ≈ 94.9 ft.

So she must throw about 94.9 feet.