Question

A man goes 5 m due west and then 12 m due north. How far is he from the starting point?

Answer 1

Answer:

12m far he walk from the starting point

Answer 2

Answer:

13 m

Step-by-step explanation: Let his starting point be a point O.

Let him go 5m in the west direction till a point A, then turn north and go 12m to a point B. We can see that the points O, A and B form a right angled triangle, with OA=5m, and AB=12m, we need to find OB.

Now by Pythagoras, OA²+AB²= OB²

So 5²+12²=OB²

25+144= OB²

OB=√169

∴OB=13m

Hence, he is 13m away from his starting point.