## 151. Math Puzzle 12/77

An ant is sitting on a cubic paving stone with an edge length of $9 \mathrm{~cm}$, at point $A$. Let's assume it wants to reach point $B$. There are many ways to get to $B$! But which is the shortest path?

## Shortest path sought!

![](https://cdn.mathpix.com/cropped/2024_06_06_69be9c4355ed0dc2557cg-52.jpg?height=266&width=325&top_left_y=495&top_left_x=1114)

How long is the distance that the ant would have to travel?

Note! For readers who, due to their age, do not yet master the mathematical solution, we also accept a graphical solution!
The straight line is famously the shortest path to travel from one point to another. The ant walks over two square areas on the path $\overline{A B}$.

According to the Pythagorean theorem for the right-angled triangle, we have:

$$
c=\sqrt{a^{2}+b^{2}}=\sqrt{\left(9^{2}+18^{2}\right) \mathrm{cm}^{2}}=\sqrt{405 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}}
$$

$c \approx 20.1 \mathrm{~cm}$. This value can also be determined in the scale drawing: