SOLUTION: Stacy works due north of home. Her husband, Sam works due east. They leave for work at the same time. By the time Stacy is 7 miles from home, the distance between Stacy and Sam is

Algebra ->  Triangles -> SOLUTION: Stacy works due north of home. Her husband, Sam works due east. They leave for work at the same time. By the time Stacy is 7 miles from home, the distance between Stacy and Sam is      Log On


   

Question 398907: Stacy works due north of home. Her husband, Sam works due east. They leave for work at the same time. By the time Stacy is 7 miles from home, the distance between Stacy and Sam is 1 mile more than Sam's distance from home. How far from home is Sam.
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
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Stacy works due north of home. Her husband, Sam works due east.
They leave for work at the same time.
By the time Stacy is 7 miles from home, the distance between Stacy and Sam is
1 mile more than Sam's distance from home.
How far from home is Sam.
:
This is a pythag problem: a^2 + b^2 = c^2; b=7
:
Let x = Sam's distance from home (a)
then
(x+1) = Sam's distance from Stacy (c)
:
x^2 + 7^2 = (x+1)^2
FOIL (x+1)(x+1)
x^2 + 49 = x^2 + 2x + 1
x^2 - x^2 + 49 - 1 = 2x
48 = 2x
x = 24 mi is Sam's dist from home
:
:
Check this on calc
sqrt%2824%5E2%2B7%5E2%29 = 25 which Sam's distance from Stacy