Answer:
Total distance flown = 5.2 miles
Explanation:
The path of the helicopter is that of a right triangle with the first stretch of 2 miles as one leg and the other stretch 90° left as the other leg.
The return trip direct to starting point is the hypotenuse of the right triangle
By the Pythagorean theorem if c is the hypotenuse and a, b are the two legs
c² = a² + b²
Letting a = 2mi and b= 1mi,
c² = 2² + 1²
c² = 4 + 1
c² = 5
c = √5 (only positive square root considered)
c =2.236 mi
c = 2.236 mi to the nearest tenth
Total distance = 2 + 1 + 2.236
= 5.236
= 5.2 mi to the nearest tenth