Jess lives 8 blocks north of the library. Mae lives 6 blocks east of the library. Jess and Mae live 10 blocks away from each other. Which statement best explains why the distances between each of these points form a right triangle? Answer Choices 1. Each distance is an even number. 2. The longest distance is greater than the sum of the shorter distances. 3. The sum of the longer distances is a multiple of the shortest distance. 4. The square of the longest distance is equal to the sum of the squares of the shorter distances.

Answer 1
All that means is that if you divide the numbers by two, you will be still left with a right triangle. It doesn't help you enough to state answer 1 as the right answer. This is the second best answer.

Answer 2
All answer 2 does is show that you have a triangle. It doesn't help you to prove that you have a right triangle. In order to have a triangle, any 2 sides must be greater than the third side.

Answer 3
This answer is true but purely coincidental. It won't do anything to prove that you have a right angle.

Answer 4
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
a = 6
b = 8
c = 10

6^2 + 8^2 = 10^2
36 + 64 = 100
100 = 100 
The Pythagorean theorem shows you have a right triangle

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