A person goes 5 meters South, then turns left and walks 8 meters. Then turns right and walks 3 meters. Finally, turns right again and walks 4 meters. What is the shortest distance from the starting point?
Correct: A
Let the starting point be (0,0).
1. Goes 5 meters South: (0, -5).
2. Turns left (East) and walks 8 meters: (8, -5).
3. Turns right (South) and walks 3 meters: (8, -5-3) = (8, -8).
4. Turns right (West) and walks 4 meters: (8-4, -8) = (4, -8).
His final position is (4, -8).
To find the shortest distance from the starting point (0,0) to (4,-8), we use the Pythagorean theorem:
Distance = sqrt((x2-x1)^2 + (y2-y1)^2)
Distance = sqrt((4-0)^2 + (-8-0)^2)
Distance = sqrt(4^2 + (-8)^2)
Distance = sqrt(16 + 64)
Distance = sqrt(80)
Distance = sqrt(16 * 5)
Distance = 4*sqrt(5) meters.