Mary would have walked 17.72 miles, If she had traveled in a straight line from her home to the park
Solution:
The figure is attached below
Let "A" be the starting point
Let "C" be the park
Mary walks east from her house 5 miles
Therefore,
AB = 5 miles
Then north 17 miles to meet her friend at the park
Therefore,
BC = 17 miles
She had traveled in a straight line from her home to the park
We have to find AC
For a right angled triangle, by pythagoras theorem,
[tex]AC^2 = AB^2 + BC^2\\\\AC^2 = 5^2 + 17^2\\\\AC^2 = 25 + 289\\\\AC^2 = 314\\\\Taking\ square\ root\ on\ both\ sides\\\\AC = 17.72[/tex]
Thus she would have walked 17.72 miles, If she had traveled in a straight line from her home to the park
