SOLUTION: A car is driven 12miles west and then 5miles north. How far is the car from the starting point?

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Question 152633: A car is driven 12miles west and then 5miles north. How far is the car from the starting point?
Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
D%5E2=%28DELTA%2Ax%29%5E2%2B%28DELTA%2Ay%29%5E2
Let x be east-west distance(east positive, west negative).
Let y be north-south distance(north positive, south negative).
Start at (x,y)=(0,0).
Go to (x,y)=(-12,5).
%28DELTA%2Ax%29=%28-12-0%29=-12
%28DELTA%2Ay%29=%285-0%29=5
D%5E2=%28DELTA%2Ax%29%5E2%2B%28DELTA%2Ay%29%5E2
D%5E2=%28-12%29%5E2%2B%285%29%5E2
D%5E2=144%2B25
D%5E2=169
D=13
The car is 13 miles from the starting point.