SOLUTION: If two planes leave the same airport at 1:00 pm, how many miles apart will they be at 3:00pm if one leaves directly north at 150mph and the other travels directly west at 200 mph.

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Question 183687: If two planes leave the same airport at 1:00 pm, how many miles apart will they be at 3:00pm if one leaves directly north at 150mph and the other travels directly west at 200 mph.
Answer by halbren(10) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The two planes both left the airport at 1:00pm and it is now 3:00pm. So they have both been flying for 2 hours. The plane flying north is traveling at 150 mph so in 2 hours it has gone 300 miles. The plane flying west is traveling at 200 mph so after 2 hours, it has gone 400 miles. If you connect the endoints of the two planes it makes a right triangle. The distance between them is equal to the hypotenuse. Using the Pythagorean therom A%5E2+%2B+B%5E2+=+C%5E2 we get that C%5E2+=+300%5E2+%2B+400%5E2+=+250000 so C+=+sqrt%28250000%29+=+500+miles.