SOLUTION: Two cars leave an intersection. One car travels north;the other east. When the car traveling north had gone 6 mi, the distance between the cars was 2 mi more than the distance trav

Algebra ->  Triangles -> SOLUTION: Two cars leave an intersection. One car travels north;the other east. When the car traveling north had gone 6 mi, the distance between the cars was 2 mi more than the distance trav      Log On


   



Question 446954: Two cars leave an intersection. One car travels north;the other east. When the car traveling north had gone 6 mi, the distance between the cars was 2 mi more than the distance traveled by the car heading east. How far had the eastbound car traveled?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Two cars leave an intersection. One car travels north; the other east.
When the car traveling north had gone 6 mi, the distance between the cars was
2 mi more than the distance traveled by the car heading east.
How far had the eastbound car traveled?
:
let a = distance traveled by the eastbound car
:
Solve this as a right triangle: a^2 + b^2 = c^2
Where
a = east dist
b = 6 mi
c = (a+2)
:
a^2 + 6^2 = (a+2)^2
FOIL the right side
a^2 + 36 = a^2 + 4a + 4
Combine like terms on the right
0 = a^2 - a^2 + 4a + 4 - 36
4a - 32 = 0
4a = 32
a = 32%2F4
a = 8 mi east dist
:
:
See if that is right
8^2 + 6^2 = 10^2