Jessie leaves her home and rides her bike 12 miles south and then 16 miles east. She then takes the shortest possible route back home. What was the total distance she traveled?

Use the Pythagorean theorem to find the distance she traveled from her final point back to her home:
\(a^2 + b^2 = c^2\)
\(12^2 + 16^2 = c^2\)
\(144 + 256 = c^2\)
\(400 = c^2\)
c = 20
Finally, add the three legs to find the total distance she traveled:
12 + 16 + 20 = 48 miles