Geometry Pythagorean theorem

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rachelmaddie

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For #16
Use Pythagorean theorem to solve for the distance
5^2 + 8^2 = d^2
25 + 64 = d^2
89 = d^2
Sqrt(89) = 9.43
9.43 miles = d

Is this done correctly? F0758090-7713-44C8-91D3-96B18193FDEC.png
 
Always good to finish with a sentence to put your answer back into context. Something like: "The market is approx. 9.43 miles from Ashley's home."

Notice that there is no "d" in the question. You introduced the "d" to do the algebra, which was good. But there should not be a "d" in the answer.
 
Unless you define what d is! Think about it this way. I give you a math word problem, ask you to solve it and you just tell me d=9.43. Do you really think that I would 100% understand your answer? Two people can do the same problem (find 3 consecutive integers that sum up to 45) and one can x=14 and another can say x=15. Can they both be right? Yes they can. The three numbers are 14, 15 and 16. If you defined x to be the smallest number, then x=14. However if you let x to be the middle number than x=15.

Another point is that \(\displaystyle d\neq 9.43\), rather \(\displaystyle d = \sqrt{89}\)
 
Harry_the_cat said:
Always good to finish with a sentence to put your answer back into context. Something like: "The market is approx. 9.43 miles from Ashley's home."

Notice that there is no "d" in the question. You introduced the "d" to do the algebra, which was good. But there should not be a "d" in the answer.
Click to expand...
d represents the distance?
 
The point being made, I think, is that you should answer a question in the language in which it was asked.

If it asks, "How far is it?", you answer, "It is about 9.43 miles away". If it asked, "What is d?", then you can answer, "d = 9.43". Since the reader of your answer (without seeing your work, and sometimes not even then) doesn't know what you mean by "d", it's not part of the vocabulary you can use in the answer.

It's a minor point, and doesn't mean you work is wrong, just the form of your answer (which you may not have intended as what you would write on your paper anyway). Teachers can be this way.
 
Dr.Peterson said:
The point being made, I think, is that you should answer a question in the language in which it was asked.

If it asks, "How far is it?", you answer, "It is about 9.43 miles away". If it asked, "What is d?", then you can answer, "d = 9.43". Since the reader of your answer (without seeing your work, and sometimes not even then) doesn't know what you mean by "d", it's not part of the vocabulary you can use in the answer.

It's a minor point, and doesn't mean you work is wrong, just the form of your answer (which you may not have intended as what you would write on your paper anyway). Teachers can be this way.
Click to expand...
So what would I use in replace of d?
 
You have two ways to state the answer.
1) Before you write d anywhere, you need to define it. So you should write (before using d): Let d equal the distance between the market and Ashley's home. Then at the end you can write d=9.43 miles.
2) You can simply state at the end that the distance between the market and Ashley's home is 9.43 miles.
 
Harry_the_cat said:
You are correct to use d in your working, after you define what it is. My point is that it is best not to use d in the answer since d wasn't in the question.
Click to expand...
Use Pythagorean theorem to solve for the distance between central market from Ashley’s home.
Let d = the distance
5^2 + 8^2 = d^2
25 + 64 = d^2
89 = d^2
Sqrt(89) = 9.43
d = 9.43 miles
The market is approx. 9.43 miles from Ashley's home.
Is this correct?
 
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