T. 5 Pythagorean theorem: word problems 87 U To get to her parents' house, Leslie would have to drive due north 9 kilometers. To get to her grandparents' house, she would have to drive due east 12 kilometers. What is the straight- line distance between the parents' and grandparents' houses?

To find the straight-line distance between Leslie's parents' and grandparents' houses, you can use the Pythagorean theorem. Since Leslie drives north and then east, this creates a right triangle where the northward distance (9 kilometers) is one leg and the eastward distance (12 kilometers) is the other leg. According to the theorem, the distance \(d\) can be calculated with the formula: \(d = \sqrt{(9^2 + 12^2)}\), which simplifies to \(d = \sqrt{(81 + 144)} = \sqrt{225} = 15\) kilometers. This scenario shows a perfect real-world application of the Pythagorean theorem. It demonstrates how you can use math to solve everyday navigation problems. Using this theorem helps in calculating distances that aren't directly measured, making it an essential skill for things like determining travel routes on a map or assessing the distance in various engineering and construction fields.