Answer:
13.0 miles
Explanation:
We can use the Pythagorean Theorem to figure out the straight line distance from your starting point to your ending point.
To construct a triangle which we can apply the Pythagorean Theorem to, we have to add up the total miles in each direction.
On the east-west axis, the total distance traveled is 5 miles.
On the north-south axis, the total distance traveled is 12 miles.
We can make these two values the legs (short sides) of a right triangle, which we can then plug into the Pythagorean Theorem:
a² + b² = c²
5² + 12² = c²
25 + 144 = c²
169 = c²
√(169) = √(c²)
c = 13
So, the straight line distance from your starting point is 13.0 miles.