Question

from his house Mike rides his bike 2 miles west and 10 miles north to the gym how much shorter is it to the gym if he rode in a straight-line path

Answer 1

Using the rectangular route Mike rides 12 miles. If he rides diagonally the distance is √2²+10²=√4+100=√104.
The difference between the two routes is 12-√104=1.80 miles approximately.