Question

In Morristown, the library is 3 kilometers south of the courthouse and 4 kilometers west of the community swimming pool. If a bird flew directly from the courthouse to the library, then from the library to the swimming pool, and then from the swimming pool back to the courthouse, what would be the total distance flown?

Answer 1

Using the Pythagorean theorem we can find the distance from the swimming pool to the courthouse:

Swimming pool to courthouse:

Distance = √(3^2 + 4^2)

Distance = √(9+16)

Distance = √25

Distance = 5 kilometers

Now total the distance the bird flew:

Courthouse to Library is given as 3 kilometers.

Library to swimming pool is given as 4 kilometers

Swimming pool to courthouse we calculated as 5 kilometers.

Total distance = 3 + 4 + 5 = 12 kilometers.