SOLUTION: Two cars left an intersection at the same time. One traveled north. The other traveled 14 mi farther, but to the east. How far apart were they then, if the distance between them wa

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: Two cars left an intersection at the same time. One traveled north. The other traveled 14 mi farther, but to the east. How far apart were they then, if the distance between them wa      Log On


   

Question 333499: Two cars left an intersection at the same time. One traveled north. The other traveled 14 mi farther, but to the east. How far apart were they then, if the distance between them was 4 mi more than the distance traveled east? Math is not my greatest subject especially when it comes to a word problem like this.
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Two cars left an intersection at the same time. One traveled north. The other traveled 14 mi farther, but to the east. How far apart were they then, if the distance between them was 4 mi more than the distance traveled east?
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Draw the picture.
Let east distance be "x".
Then north distance is "x-14".
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Distance between the cars: sqrt[x^2+(x-14)^2]
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Equation:
sqrt[x^2+(x-14)^2] = x+4
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Solve for "x":
x^2+x^2-28x+14^2 = x^2+8x+16
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x^2-36x+180 = 0
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(x-30)(x-6) = 0
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Realistic answers:
x = 30 miles (north car distance)
x-14 = 16 miles (east car distance)
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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