A marine biologist tracks a tagged shark that swims 18 km north, then 24 km east, and finally 10 km south. What is the straight-line distance from its starting point to its final position, in kilometers?

Tue, 05 May 2026 05:31:28 +0000

**What’s the Straight-Line Distance From a Shark’s Journey? That Coastal Mystery Solved**
A marine biologist tracks a tagged shark that swims 18 kilometers north, 24 kilometers east, and then 10 kilometers south. What’s the shortest distance from where it started to where it ended? This unrelated but intriguing national conversation is growing as people explore marine life patterns and coastal navigation — a topic that blends science, environmental awareness, and real-world curiosity. Users searching for clarity on navigation and spatial reasoning are increasingly drawn to this compelling underwater story. Recent discussions on digital platforms show a rising interest in marine movement data, driven by growing engagement in ocean conservation and nature-based education. Though not marketed as a piece about sex or risk, the shark’s precise path raises questions about how scientists track movement, calculate distances, and interpret motion across land and sea. For informed readers across the US, understanding this calculation reveals more than just numbers — it illuminates tools used to protect endangered species and study climate impacts. **The Journey: From North to East, Then South — Calculating the Shortest Path**
The shark begins by swimming 18 km north, then turns east and travels 24 km — forming a large right-angle leg near a coastal corridor. Finally, it moves 10 km south, reducing its northward displacement but leaving a net movement of 8 km north (18 km minus 10 km). Combined with the full 24 km east, this creates a diagonal route best calculated using basic geometry. To find the direct, shortest distance from start to finish, we apply the Pythagorean theorem: the eastward leg remains constant at 24 km, while the net northward movement is 8 km. Using the formula √(east² + north²), the distance is √(24² + 8²) = √(576 + 64) = √640 km. Simplifying √640 gives approximately 25.3 km — a precise figure central to marine tracking models.