SOLUTION: Eric walks 3 miles east, then turns right and walks 4 miles south. What is the shortest distance, in miles, that will take him back to where he started?

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Question 883479: Eric walks 3 miles east, then turns right and walks 4 miles south. What is the shortest distance, in miles, that will take him back to where he started?
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You have a right triangle with legs 3 and 4. Use the pythagorean theorem to get

a^2 + b^2 = c^2
3^2 + 4^2 = c^2
9 + 16 = c^2
25 = c^2
c^2 = 25
c = sqrt(25)
c = 5

The hypotenuse, which in this case is the shortest distance, is 5.

So the final answer is 5.