Problem solving you are participating in an orienteering competition. the diagram shows the position of a river that cuts through the woods. you are currently 2 miles east and 1 mile north of your starting point, the origin. what is the shortest distance you must travel to reach the river? round your answer to the nearest tenth.

The shortest distance is 2.2 miles      

Step-by-step explanation:

we know that

The shortest distance you must travel to reach the river is the perpendicular distance to the river

step 1

Find the slope of the line perpendicular to the river

we have

The slope of the river  is m=3

Remember that if two lines are perpendicular, then their slopes are opposite reciprocal (the product of their slopes is -1)

therefore

The slope of the line perpendicular to the river is

step 2

Find the equation of the line into point slope form

we have

substitute

step 3

Find the intersection point of the river and the line perpendicular to the river

we have

------> equation A

-----> equation B

Solve the system by graphing

The intersection point is (-0.1,1,7)

see the attached figure

step 3

Find the distance between the points (2,1) and (-0,1,1.7)

the formula to calculate the distance between two points is equal to

substitute

56.6

step-by-step explanation:

the ratio of the perimeters is equal to the scale.

the ratio of the areas is equal to the square of the scale.

34 / 20 = k

a / 19.6 = k²

substituting:

a / 19.6 = (34 / 20)²

a = 19.6 (34 / 20)²

a ≈ 56.6