Question

Pythagorean theorem

Bruce is fishing from a small boat. His fishing hook is 16 feet below him, and a fish is swimming at the same depth as the hook, 12 feet away. How far away is Bruce from the fish?

Answer 1

Apply Pythagorean theorem

`\\ \tt\hookrightarrow H^2=P^2+B^2`

`\\ \tt\hookrightarrow H^2=16^2+12^2`

`\\ \tt\hookrightarrow H^2=256+144`

`\\ \tt\hookrightarrow H^2=400`

`\\ \tt\hookrightarrow H=20`

Answer 2

• 20 feet

Explanation:

The required distance is the hypotenuse of the right triangle with the legs 16 feet and 12 feet.

Find the hypotenuse:

• 
  `√(16^2+12^2)=√(256+144) =√(400) =20ft`