Question

A small catapult, located at the point (21,8), launches a watermelon for an event at a local fair. A very strong man is waiting to catch the watermelon at point (26,20). How far must the watermelon fly in order for the man to catch it without moving?

a) 7 units
b) 13 units
c) 15 units
d) 17 units

Answer 1

The watermelon must fly approximately 27.7 units for the man to catch it without moving.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine how far the watermelon must fly in order for the man to catch it without moving, we can use the distance formula. The distance between the launch point (21,8) and the catching point (26,20) can be calculated using the formula:

Distance = sqrt((x2 - x1)^2 + (y2 - y1)^2)

Substituting the values, we get:

Distance = sqrt((26 - 21)^2 + (20 - 8)^2) = sqrt(25^2 + 12^2) = sqrt(625 + 144) = sqrt(769) ≈ 27.7 units

Therefore, the watermelon must fly approximately 27.7 units for the man to catch it without moving.