A person starts from a point A and travels 3 kmeastwards to B and then...
Understanding the Journey from A to D
The journey involves several segments that can be visualized on a coordinate system. Let’s break down the movements step by step.
Step 1: Movement from A to B
- Starting Point A (0, 0).
- Travels **3 km east** to point B (3, 0).
Step 2: Movement from B to C
- At point B, the person turns **left (north)** and travels **3 times the distance** from A to B.
- This distance is **3 km × 3 = 9 km** north.
- Therefore, point C is at (3, 9).
Step 3: Movement from C to D
- At point C, the person turns **left (west)** and travels **5 times the distance** from A to B.
- This distance is **3 km × 5 = 15 km** west.
- Thus, point D is at (3 - 15, 9) = (-12, 9).
Calculating the Shortest Distance from A to D
- The coordinates of point A are (0, 0) and point D are (-12, 9).
- The shortest distance can be calculated using the distance formula:
\[
\text{Distance} = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2}
\]
- Plugging in the values:
\[
\text{Distance} = \sqrt{((-12 - 0)^2 + (9 - 0)^2)} = \sqrt{144 + 81} = \sqrt{225} = 15 \text{ km}
\]
Conclusion
The shortest distance between the starting point A and the destination D is **15 km**. This analysis illustrates the importance of visualizing movements in a coordinate plane for clarity in problem-solving.