Question

Filiz traveled north and west and ended up 25 miles from her starting location.

What is one way to estimate the possible distance that Filiz traveled north, and the possible distance that Filiz traveled west?

How many possible routes do you think there were for Filiz? Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

Either 15 miles north 20 miles west or 20 miles north 15 miles west

The best route Filiz can take is the hypothenuse in which case he will drive only 25 miles

Explanation:

The described route make us think of a right triangle.

Where the way north is one leg and the west way the other one

So we have two possibilities

1.- North way traveled is 15 miles and west way 20 miles

2.- North way traveled is 20 miles and west way 15 miles

Both cases end in a distance of 25 miles from the starting point according to Pithagoras Theorem

(25)² = (15)² + (20)² = 625

Taking √(25)² = 25 miles

The best route Filiz can take is the hypothenuse in which case he will drive only 25 miles