Some Problems Using the Pythagorean Theorem!

If a runner from a baseball team is running from first to second base, each base being 90 feet apart & the distance from first base to third base is 120 feet, then how far would the catcher have to throw the ball?



HOW TO FIGURE IT OUT:

The first thing that you will need to do is split the triangle apart so that it makes 2 complete right triangles. Then, you take the distance from first to third base and split that in half. After you do that, you would do...
a2+b2=c2 ---> PLUG IN THE NUMBERS!
60(2)+b2=90(2) ---> FIGURE OUT THE EXPONENTS!
3600+b2= 8100 ---> SUBTRACT A FROM C!
8100-3600=4500 ---> NOW SQUARE THE ANSWER!
The square root of 8100 is...
90!
Then you would do 90*2 since you need to find the distance from home plate to 2nd base.
And 90*2 equals...
180!
The answer is 180!
Do you get it now?
Was it tricky?
Any questions? :[)