Question

Contestants in a long distance race run 5 kilometers due south. The runners then turn right and head west towards the finish line. If the straight line distance from start to finish is 13 kilometers, what is the distance that the contestants traveled while heading west?

Answer 1

Let's call the distance from the beginning to south A = 5km
West Point = B

A* + B* = 13* 
5* + B* = 13*
B* = 144
B = 12km

* = Squared