Sierra walks 26 cubits due south, then 70 cubits due east and finally 50 cubits due north. How far is Sierra from her starting point?

Question

858 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2018-01-24T21:42:04

#70# Cubits.

enter image source here
From the diagram:

#AB=26# cubits due south.

#BC=70# cubits due east.

#CE=50# cubits due north

#AD# is parallel to #BC# and of equal length.

#DE=CE-CD=24#

We need to find #AE#

By Pythagoras' theorem:

#(AD)^2+(DE)^2=(AE)^2#

#(70)^2+(24)^2=(AE)^2#

#5476=(AE)^2#

#AE=sqrt(5476)=74#

Sierra is #70# cubits from her starting position.