Final answer:
Using the Pythagorean theorem with the given measurements of 3 feet in height and 7 feet in horizontal distance, the slide length comes out to approximately 7.62 feet. Given the available choices, the closest option is 10 feet. There may be an error with the options provided or the measurement units used.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the length of the slide at the zoo, we will use the Pythagorean theorem which states that in a right-angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. Here, the ladder of the slide represents the height (a vertical leg of the triangle), and the distance between the base of the slide and the ladder represents the base (a horizontal leg of the triangle).
The formula for the Pythagorean theorem is a2 + b2 = c2
Where a is the height of the ladder, b is the distance from the base to the ladder, and c is the length of the slide (the hypotenuse).
Plugging in the given values:
- Height (a): 3 feet
- Base (b): 7 feet
Using the formula, we compute:
32 + 72 = c2
9 + 49 = c2
58 = c2
To find c, we take the square root of both sides:
√58 ≈ 7.62
The length of the slide is therefore approximately 7.62 feet. However, this is not one of the provided options, so it appears there may have been a measurement error if the options are expected to be correct. The closest option and the only reasonable one based on standard rounding is:
D) 10 feet.