Question

While crossing the Atlantic, sailors spot two mermaids 120° apart on each end of an island that is 6 miles away. How far apart are the mermaids around the outer edge of the island to the nearest tenth of a mile?
A. 12.6 miles
B. 3.1 miles
C. 7.2 miles
D. 20.2 miles

Answer 1

First thing to do is to remember, that the circumference of the full circle is 2(6)pi--12pi.  you only want about 120 of it so (120/360)=1/3, so you add it into the thing earlier to get, 12pi(1/3)=4pi =12.566... which you can round into 12.6.  This is answer choice A.