Chapter 6: Problem 18
Find the distance between each pair of points. Round to the nearest tenth, if necessary. \(B(0,0), C(-5,6)\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The distance between points B and C is approximately 7.8 units.
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Distance Formula
To find the distance between two points in a coordinate plane, we use the distance formula: \[ d = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2} \]where \((x_1, y_1)\) and \((x_2, y_2)\) are the coordinates of the two points.
02
Identify Coordinates
Identify the coordinates of the given points. Here, point B has coordinates \((x_1, y_1) = (0, 0)\) and point C has coordinates \((x_2, y_2) = (-5, 6)\).
03
Plug Coordinates into the Distance Formula
Substitute the coordinates of points B and C into the distance formula:\[ d = \sqrt{((-5) - 0)^2 + (6 - 0)^2} \]
04
Simplify the Expression
Simplify the expression inside the square root:\[ d = \sqrt{(-5)^2 + 6^2} \]\[ d = \sqrt{25 + 36} \]\[ d = \sqrt{61} \]
05
Approximate the Distance
Calculate the square root of 61 and round to the nearest tenth:\[ d \approx 7.8 \]
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Coordinate Plane
The coordinate plane is a two-dimensional surface where we can place points using pairs of numbers, known as coordinates. Each point on the plane is defined by its horizontal (x-axis) and vertical (y-axis) positions.
- The horizontal axis is called the x-axis, and it usually represents the value "x" in the coordinate pairs.
- The vertical axis is called the y-axis, corresponding to the value "y" in the pairs.
- The point where the x-axis and y-axis intersect is called the origin, which has the coordinates (0, 0).
Distance Between Points
The distance between two points on a coordinate plane can be calculated using the distance formula. This formula gives us the straight-line distance between two coordinates, which can be thought of as the hypotenuse of a right triangle.
The distance equation is based on the differences in both x and y coordinates:
\[ d = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2} \]
Using the exercise as an example, the coordinates of point B are (0, 0) and for point C, (-5, 6). After substituting these into the formula:
The distance equation is based on the differences in both x and y coordinates:
\[ d = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2} \]
Using the exercise as an example, the coordinates of point B are (0, 0) and for point C, (-5, 6). After substituting these into the formula:
- First, calculate the change in x: \((-5) - 0 = -5\).
- Next, calculate the change in y: \(6 - 0 = 6\).
- Then, apply these values in the formula to find the distance as \(d = \sqrt{(-5)^2 + 6^2}\).
- Simplify to find \(d = \sqrt{25 + 36} = \sqrt{61}\).
Pythagorean Theorem
The Pythagorean theorem is fundamental in estimating distances and is the basis of the distance formula. It relates the sides of a right-angled triangle to its hypotenuse. According to the theorem:
\[ a^2 + b^2 = c^2 \]Where:
\[ a^2 + b^2 = c^2 \]Where:
- "a" and "b" are the lengths of the two shorter sides – known as "legs".
- "c" represents the hypotenuse, the longest side of the triangle, opposite the right angle.
- Calculate \( (-5)^2 + 6^2 = 25 + 36 = 61. \)
- The distance, representing the hypotenuse, is then found by taking the square root of 61, which approximates to \(7.8\). This is the straight-line distance between the two points.
- This theorem is not just for triangles; it’s exceptionally useful on the coordinate plane. Whenever you calculate the distance between two points, you essentially form a right-angled triangle, with the direct path between points as the hypotenuse.
In our example, the changes in x and y (\(-5\) and \(6\)) become the legs of the triangle. By applying the Pythagorean theorem: