Answer to Question #253880 in Algebra for Jen

Question

A gopher has dug holes in opposite corners of a rectangular yard. If the yard is 7 meters by 7 meters, how far will the gopher have to run to get from one of its holes

Answer 1

From the diagram above

We use the Pythagorean theorem

c² = a² + b²

where a=7, b=7 and c is unknown

c² = 7² + 7²

c² = 49 + 49

c² = 98

Finding the square root of both sides

$\sqrt{c²} = \sqrt{98}\\ c = 7\sqrt{2} m$