SOLUTION: Question: Marco drives 18 miles south, turns east, and drives 24 miles to get from his pet shop to his house. If the new road is built in a straight line from Marco's shop to his

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Question 274989: Question: Marco drives 18 miles south, turns east, and drives 24 miles to get from his pet shop to his house. If the new road is built in a straight line from Marco's shop to his house, how long will the new road be?
This is the formula my book tell me to use:
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
This is what I have tired:
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
24^2 + b^2 = 18^2
576 + b^2 = 324
576 - 576 + b^2 = 324 - 576
b^2 = -252
b^2 = square root of -252
What am I doing wrong?

Answer by user_dude2008(1862) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
a^2 + b^2 = c^2

18^2 + 24^2 = c^2

324 + 576 = c^2

900 = c^2

c^2 = 900

c = 30 (ignore negative solution)

Answer: new road is 30 miles