Chapter 8.1, Problem 51PS

Solution

To find: Use the information given to find the distance a medical evacuation (“medevac”) helicopter would have to fly to Memorial Medical Center from each location. Each unit on the map represents 1 mile, and the letters N, S, E, and W indicate direction.

Hence, the distance between Memorial Medical Center and Spaulding Dam is 4.55 miles.

Given: the location of Spaulding Dam

Concept Used:

distance formula is given by $d=\sqrt{{\left(x_1-x_2\right)}^2+{\left(y_1-y_2\right)}^2}$

Calculation: Coordinates of Memorial Medical Center is $00.5N\Rightarrow \left(0,0.5\right)$

And Coordinates Spaulding Dam is $2.9E3.0S\Rightarrow \left(2.9,-3.0\right)$

Finding the distance between Memorial Medical Center and Spaulding Dam:

  $\begin{array}{c}d=\sqrt{{\left(2.9-0\right)}^2+{\left(-3.0-0.5\right)}^2}\\ d=\sqrt{{\left(2.9\right)}^2+{\left(-3.5\right)}^2}\\ d=\sqrt{8.41+12.25}\\ d=\sqrt{20.66}\\ d=4.54532727\\ d\approx 4.55\text{ units}\\ d\approx 4.55\text{ miles}\end{array}$

Conclusion:

Hence, the distance between Memorial Medical Center and Spaulding Dam is 4.55 miles.