Question

Nick is undertaking an expedition across the desert from A to B. In order to complete his journey he starts at A, walks 7km West and then 24km North until he arrives at B. How much shorter would Nick's journey have been if he had gone by the shortest route across the desert?

Answer 1

Shorting distance = 6 km

Explanation:

Given:

Distance walk = 7 km west

Distance walk = 24 km north

Find:

Shorting distance

Computation:

Using Pythagorean theorem:

Magnitude AB = √AC² + BC²

Magnitude AB = √7² + 24²

Magnitude AB = √49 + 576

Magnitude AB = 25 Km

Total distance Nick walk = 7 km + 24 km

Total distance Nick walk = 31 km

Shorting distance = 31 km - 25 km

Shorting distance = 6 km