Final answer:
The distance from the point to the nearest corner of the table is found using the Pythagorean theorem, which yields a hypotenuse of 5 feet, corresponding to answer choice (c) 5 feet.
Step-by-step explanation:
The given problem involves a point on a rectangular table that is drawn 3 feet from one side and 4 feet from an adjacent side.
To find the distance from the point to the nearest corner of the table, we construct a right-angled triangle where the sides of the table act as the two legs of the triangle, and the line from the point to the corner is the hypotenuse.
To solve for the hypotenuse, we apply the Pythagorean theorem which states that in a right-angled triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (c) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides (a and b). This can be expressed as c2 = a2 + b2.
Using the distances provided (a = 3 feet and b = 4 feet), we compute the hypotenuse: c = √(32 + 42) = √(9 + 16) = √25 = 5 feet. Therefore, the point is 5 feet from the nearest corner of the table, which corresponds to answer choice (c) 5 feet.