Travis is in a hot air balloon that has just taken off and is now floating 12 meters above its launching point. Shontal is standing on the ground, 9 meters away from the launching point. How far apart are Travis and Shontal?

Shontal is at a distance of 13 meters from the launching point

Step-by-step explanation:

Step 1 :

Given,

Distance of Travis from the launching point  = 12 meters

Distance of Shontal from the launching point = 9 meters

Step 2 :

Let A represent the launching point

B represent the point above the launching point at which the balloon is floating.

C represent the point where Shontal stands on the ground.

The angle made by AB with BC is 90 degrees because the balloon is directly above the launching point

Step 3:

So we have a right angle triangle here, with

AB = 12

BC = 9 and angle ABC = 90 degrees

We need to find out length of  AC

Using the theorem of Pythagoras,

AC² = AB² + BC²

AC² = 12² + 9² = 144 + 25 = 169 = 13

Step 4 :

Answer :

Shontal stands at a distance of 13 meters from the launching point