Final answer:
To find out how far Randy's baby is from the starting point after crawling in the described pattern, one needs to use the Pythagorean theorem. The net distances north-south and east-west are used as sides of a right triangle, and the hypotenuse represents the total distance from the start. The calculation yields a distance of 37 inches away from the starting point.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking to determine the distance from the starting point after moving in a specific pattern. To solve this problem, we can use the Pythagorean theorem, which relates the lengths of the sides of a right triangle.
Randy's baby crawls 18 inches north, then 35 inches west, and 6 inches south. To find the distance from the starting point, we need to determine the resultant displacement vector by finding the net distance north-south and the net distance east-west.
The net north-south distance is 18 inches north - 6 inches south = 12 inches north. The westward distance remains 35 inches since there was no movement eastward.
By treating these as sides of a right triangle, the distance from the starting point (the hypotenuse of the triangle) can be calculated using the Pythagorean theorem:
c = √(a² + b²)
Substituting the distances, we have:
c = √(12² + 35²)
c = √(144 + 1225)
c = √(1369)
c = 37 inches.
Hence, Randy's baby is 37 inches away from where he started.