Question

A jogger goes half a mile north and then turns west. If the jogger finishes 1.3 miles away from the starting point, how far west did the jogger go?
Use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve

Answer 1

In order to solve this problem, you must draw a right triangle first to help you visualize the path of the jogger. 
You are given 0.5 miles north (which will be the height of the right triangle), and 1.3 miles (which will be the hypotenuse of the triangle). 
Using Pythagorean Theorem: a²+b²=c², we have:
0.5² + b² = 1.3²
b = 1.3²-0.5²
b = 1.2 miles