SOLUTION: The Jones family decided to leave their home in Vermont and go on vacation. They loaded up their van with their kids and their two dogs and headed south on Interstate 91 for 2.5 h

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Question 758789: The Jones family decided to leave their home in Vermont and go on vacation. They loaded up their van with their kids and their two dogs and headed south on Interstate 91 for 2.5 hours at an average speed of 60 mph. They then drove west on Interstate 84 at an average speed of 70 mph for 4 hours. They realized they had left one of their kids home in Vermont. Mr. Jones decided to rent a helicopter to fly him back to Vermont and pick up their missing kid.
What is shortest distance helicopter can take?
Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Use to calculate the distance traveled on I91. Then use to calculate the distance traveled on I84. Assume these are straight lines and that the angle formed by the intersection of I91 and I84 is exactly a right angle. It isn't really, but you cannot solve the problem otherwise. Then calculate the measure of the hypotenuse of the right triangle formed using the two calculated distances as legs.

By the way, tell your instructor/teacher/professor that if they are going to make up problems, they should check to make sure they make sense. You cannot travel west on I84 for 4 hours at 70mph starting at the junction of I91 and I84. There isn't enough of I84 after you leave downtown Hartford. Presuming you were able to average 70mph, you would reach the end of I84 just outside of Scranton in less than 3 hours.

John

Egw to Beta kai to Sigma
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it