SOLUTION: Here is the question. I even know the answer. However, I do not know how to solve it. "A woman walks home by traveling 20 meters north, 25 meters east, and then 5 more meters

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Question 75470: Here is the question. I even know the answer. However, I do not know how to solve it.
"A woman walks home by traveling 20 meters north, 25 meters east, and then 5 more meters north. If she could walk home along a straight line, how many fewer meters would she need to walk? Round your answer to the nearest hundredth."
The answer is 14.64 meters.
Answer by checkley75(3666) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
THE BEST WAY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IS WITH A GRAPH USING X & Y COORDINATES.
START AT THE INTERSECTION (0,0), GO UP (NORTH) 25 UNITS, THEN GO 20 UNITES TO THE RIGHT (EAST) THEN ANOTHER 5 UP (NORTH).
YOU ARE NOW AT (25,25). NOW DRAW A LINE FROM HERE TO THE ORIGIN (0,0) AND YOU HAVE THE HYPOTENUSE OF A 25 BY 25 RIGHT TRIANGLE.
USING THE FORMULA A^2+B^2=C^2 WE HAVE
25^2+25^2=C^2
625+625=C^2
1250=C^2
C=35.36 METERS IS THE LENGTH OF THE WALK HOME.
50-35.36=14.64 METERS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO WALKS.