SOLUTION: A man walks a certain distance due North and then the same distance plus a further 7km due East. If the final distance from the starting point is 17km, find the distances he walks

Question 530736: A man walks a certain distance due North and then the same distance plus a further 7km due East. If the final distance from the starting point is 17km, find the distances he walks North and East.
Answer by oberobic(2304) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
He walks x km north and x+7 km east.
At this point he is 17 km from the starting point.
This is the measure of the hypotenuse of a right triangle.
.
c^2 = a^2 + b^2
.
17^2 = x^2 + (x+7)^2
.
289 = x^2 + x^2 + 14x + 49
.
2x^2 +14x - 240 = 0
.
x^2 +7x -120 = 0
.
(x+15)(x-8) = 0
.
x = -15 or 8.
.
You cannot walk a negative distance, so x = 8 is the solution.
.
Always check your solution.
He walks 8 km north and then 8+7 = 15 km east.
8^2 + 15^2 = 64 + 225 = 289
sqrt(289) = 17
Correct.
.
Done.
RELATED QUESTIONS
1.two numbers,which differ by 3,have a product off 88.find them. 2.A man walks a certain (answered by fractalier)

A man starts from point A to get to point B. The road makes the man travel 3 kilometres... (answered by Fombitz)

A man walks 7km due North and 10km East,find his resultant... (answered by ikleyn)

a man travels 7km due north, then 10km east. find the resultant... (answered by addingup)

a man goes 10 miles due east and then goes 24 miles due north. find the the distance of... (answered by bond)

a men goes 10 meter due east and 24 meter due north. find the distance from starting... (answered by Alan3354)

A car goes 24miles due north then 7miles due east .What is the straight distance between... (answered by ikleyn)

A hiker walks 12 km from a camp in the direction of S36�56'W and then walks 7km due west. (answered by Alan3354)

Pls help out :A man walks 8km north and then 5km in a direction east of north. Find the... (answered by Alan3354)