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a hiker goes 6 miles east and then turns south. if the hiker finishes 7.2 miles from the starting point. how far south did the hiker go?

Sagot :

Answer:

1.2

Step-by-step explanation:

You have to subtract 7.2 - 6 = 1.2

East and south direction motion are perpendicular to each other. The hiker went approx 4 miles in south.

How are directions related?

East or west are perpendicular (forming 90° ) to north or south directions.

North is 180° to south, and east is 180 degrees to west.

What is Pythagoras Theorem?

If ABC is a triangle with AC as the hypotenuse and angle B with 90 degrees then we have:

[tex]|AC|^2 = |AB|^2 + |BC|^2[/tex]

where |AB| = length of line segment AB.


Considering the diagram attached below, we deduce that the triangle ABC is right angled triangles, and thus, its sides' lengths will follow Pythagoras theorem.

The movement the hiker did in the south direction is the length of the side BC, denoted by |BC| = x miles (assume)

Then, by applying Pythagoras theorem, we get:

[tex]|AC|^2 = |AB|^2 + |BC|^2\\(7.2)^2 = 6^2 + x^2\\51.84 = 36 + x^2\\\\\text{Subtracting 36 from both the sides and taking root, we get}\\\\x = \sqrt{15.86} \approx 3.98 \approx 4 \: \rm miles[/tex]

(took positive root since distance is a non-negative quantity)

Thus, the hiker went approx 4 miles in south.

Learn more about Pythagoras theorem here:

https://brainly.com/question/12105522

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