Question

a mouse has made holes in opposite corners of a rectangular kitchen. starting from its hole in the northwest corner, the mouse scurries 3 meters along the length of the kitchen to reach a piece of cheese in the southwest corner. then the mouse scurries 4 meters along the width of the kitchen to its other hole in the southeast corner. finally the mouse scurries back to the first hole. what is the total distance the mouse scurries?
meters

Explanation:

Step1: Identify rectangle side lengths

Length $l=3$ m, width $w=4$ m

Step2: Calculate diagonal distance

Use Pythagorean theorem: $d=\sqrt{l^2+w^2}=\sqrt{3^2+4^2}=\sqrt{9+16}=\sqrt{25}=5$ m

Step3: Sum all travel distances

Total distance = $3+4+5$

Answer:

12 meters