Question

oel biked 9 miles east and then 12 miles north. If he biked back to his starting point using the most direct route, how many miles would he ride all together?

Answer 1

36

Explanation:

Answer 2

36 miles

Explanation:

(Imagine a huge triangle on a perfectly open space-- not with streets or houses or cornfields.)

The dimensions of the two sides given are multiples of a classic Pythagorean Triple: 3, 4, 5.
`3^(2) + 4^(2) = 5^(2)`

9 is 3x3, 12 is 3x4 so the remaining side would be 3x5 15

Add those 3 sides to get the total distance, 36 miles.