Brenda rides 15 miles east and then 3 miles south. How far is she from her starting point?

Brenda's movement forms a right triangle with her path. She rides 15 miles east and 3 miles south, which are the legs of the triangle. To find the straight-line distance from her starting point, we can apply the Pythagorean theorem:

\[
c = \sqrt{a^2 + b^2}
\]

where \(a = 15\) miles and \(b = 3\) miles.

\[
c = \sqrt{15^2 + 3^2} = \sqrt{225 + 9} = \sqrt{234}
\]

\[
c \approx 15.3 \, \text{miles}
\]

So, Brenda is approximately 15.3 miles from her starting point.

Would you like further details, or do you have any questions?

Here are 5 related questions:
1. What if Brenda had gone 20 miles east instead of 15 miles?
2. How would the calculation change if she rode 3 miles north instead of south?
3. What is the significance of the Pythagorean theorem in geometry?
4. How can we apply this method to a real-world navigation system?
5. How would the distance change if the eastward and southward distances were doubled?

**Tip:** Always check whether a problem forms a right triangle before applying the Pythagorean theorem!

Learn how to calculate the distance Brenda is from her starting point after riding 15 miles east and 3 miles south using the Pythagorean Theorem. This problem covers key geometry concepts involving right triangles and is ideal for students in Grades 6-8.

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