Question

Help please. Im giving 20 points.

Brenda is playing hide-and-seek with Cody and Lara. Cody is hiding 16 meters
south of Brenda, and Lara is hiding due east of Cody. If Brenda is 20 meters from
Lara, how far apart are Cody and Lara?

Answer 1

Cody and Lara are 12 meters apart.

Explanation:

You need to use the Pythagorean theorem.

Draw a triangle with the hypotenuse as the distance between Brenda and Lara, the leg should be the distance between Brenda and Cody and the base should be the distance between Cody and Lara.

Then you plug in the distances for each side of the triangle.

The distance between Brenda and Lara or the hypotenuse of the triangle is 20m. We also know that the distance between Brenda and Cody or the leg of the triangle is 16m.

Then, set up an equation using the pythagorean theorem.

A^2+B^2=C^2

In our case we know A which equals 16 and we know C which equals 20.

Now, you square 20 or the hypotenuse and then subtract 16 squared.

20^2 = 400

16^2 = 256

400 - 256 = 144

144 = 12^2

12 meters is the base and the distance between Cody and Lara.