Question 203647
If you draw a diagram of this situation in which the railway tracks (from the train to the crossing) are represented by one leg of a right triangle and the road on which the car is traveling represents the other leg of the triangle, then the distance from the train to the car is the hypotenuse.
So we have one leg of the triangle = 30 meters and the hypotenuse = to 50 meters.
You need to find the distance. d, of the train to the crossing. Use the Pythagorean theorem: {{{c^2 = a^2+b^2}}} where, in this problem, c = 50 meters, a = 30 meters, and d (this is the b in the formula) is unknown.
{{{50^2 = 30^2+d^2}}}
{{{2500 = 900+d^2}}} Subtract 900 from both sides of the equation.
{{{1600 = d^2}}} Take the square root of both sides.
{{{d = 40}}}meters.
The train is 40 meters from the crossing.
P.S. I hope the motorist makes it alright!