A person walks 12 km north and then 5 km west. How far is he from the starting point?
- A. 12 km
- B. 13 km ✓
- C. 15 km
- D. 17 km
Correct answer
B. 13 km
Explanation
Using the Pythagorean theorem on the 12 km and 5 km legs: the straight-line distance is the square root of (12^2 + 5^2) = 13 km.