Solve the problem.
-Two cars leave an intersection. One car travels north; the other east. When the car traveling north had gone $9 \mathrm { mi }$, the distance between the cars was 3 mi more than the distance traveled by the car heading east. How far had the east bound car traveled?
A) $12 \mathrm { mi }$
B) $15 \mathrm { mi }$
C) $9 \mathrm { mi }$
D) $18 \mathrm { mi }$

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The problem can be solved using the Pythagorean theorem. Let $x$ be the distance traveled by the eastbound car. The distance between the cars is $x + 3$ miles. Since the cars form a right triangle with the northbound distance as one leg (9 miles) and the eastbound distance as the other leg ($x$ miles), the Pythagorean theorem gives us $9^2 + x^2 = (x + 3)^2$. Simplifying this equation leads to $x = 12$ miles.

Solve the Problem 9mi9 \mathrm { mi }9mi , the Distance Between the Cars Was 3 Mi More

Solve the Problem $9 \mathrm { mi }$ , the Distance Between the Cars Was 3 Mi More