Question

Solve the problem. Type the number in the box that correctly completes the sentence.

Nimrod wanted to build a tower three miles high. He wants to know how far would it be from the top of his tower to a point four miles away from the base of the tower. The distance would be Answer
miles.

Answer 1

Answer:

5 miles

Step-by-step explanation:

Think of this like a triangle.  From the bottom of the tower, to the top of the tower, to the point 3 miles away, and back to the bottom of the tower.

So we already have 2 side lengths. The height of the tower, 3 miles, and the base, 4 miles.  In order to find the 3rd length, the distance from the top of the tower to the point 4 miles away from the bottom, we need to apply the formula A squared + B squared = C squared.

We have A and B,  (3 and 4) and we need C.

A squared (3 squared) is 9

B squared (4 squared) is 16

so 9 + 16 = C squared

9 + 16 = 25

C squared = 25

square root of 25 is 5

C = 5

The distance from the top of the tower to the point 4 miles away is 5.