An oak tree is 7 meters tall and a bird is standing on the ground 4 meters from the tree. If the bird flies directly to the top of the tree, how far will it fly? If necessary, round to the nearest tenth.


This is a right triangle problem where:

- The height of the tree is 7 meters, representing one leg of the triangle.
- The horizontal distance from the bird to the tree is 4 meters, representing the other leg of the triangle.
- The bird's flight path to the top of the tree is the hypotenuse.

To find the hypotenuse \( c \), we can use the Pythagorean theorem:

\[
c^2 = a^2 + b^2
\]

where \( a = 7 \) meters and \( b = 4 \) meters. Substituting these values:

\[
c^2 = 7^2 + 4^2
\]
\[
c^2 = 49 + 16 = 65
\]
\[
c = \sqrt{65} \approx 8.1 \text{ meters}
\]

Therefore, the bird will fly approximately **8.1 meters**.

Would you like more details on this, or do you have any questions?

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Here are some related questions to think about:
1. How would the distance change if the tree were taller?
2. What if the bird were 5 meters away from the tree instead of 4?
3. How do we apply the Pythagorean theorem in other real-world situations?
4. What if the tree height were measured in feet instead of meters?
5. How can we calculate the bird's flight time if we know its speed?

**Tip:** The Pythagorean theorem is especially useful in finding distances in problems involving right triangles!

An oak tree is 7 meters tall and a bird is standing on the ground 4 meters from the tree. If the bird flies directly to the top of the tree, how far will it fly? If necessary, round to the nearest tenth.

Solve how far a bird will fly directly to the top of a 7-meter oak tree standing 4 meters away using the Pythagorean theorem. This step-by-step solution explains key geometric concepts and is perfect for students in Grades 6-8.

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