Question

Pythagorean theorem

Bruce is fishing from a small boat. His fishing hook is 16 feet below him, and a fish is swimming at the same depth as the hook, 12 feet away. How far away is Bruce from the fish?

Answer 1

Answer:

• 20 feet

Step-by-step explanation:

The required distance is the hypotenuse of the right triangle with the legs  16 feet and 12 feet.

Find the hypotenuse:

• $\sqrt{16^2+12^2}=\sqrt{256+144} =\sqrt{400} =20ft$

Answer 2

Apply Pythagorean theorem

$\\ \tt\hookrightarrow H^2=P^2+B^2$

$\\ \tt\hookrightarrow H^2=16^2+12^2$

$\\ \tt\hookrightarrow H^2=256+144$

$\\ \tt\hookrightarrow H^2=400$

$\\ \tt\hookrightarrow H=20$