Originally Posted by Zen Scanner
Originally Posted by DAD22
sqrt( (1416 + 165*cos(A))^2 + (165*sin(A))^2 ) yards

Where A is the angle turned to go toward the shop after reaching the library. That's the answer they were expecting, right?

That's the answer if you want to get a B on the problem. An A requires using Taxicab geometry.
Good point; there are many unknowns, but streets are possibly involved. I feel strongly that any proper answer would take into account the geographic layout of the area, as well as the any curvature of the Earth surface of the planet or planetoid, if on a body massy enough for gravitation to exert such an effect, and the implied detour distance to pick up one's spacesuit before heading out of the airlock otherwise. Sadly, such suggestions drop like lead balloons in a vacuum when advanced during an educational team meeting.

Striving to increase my rate of flow, and fight forum gloopiness. sick