SOLUTION: What is the length of the longest side of a triangle that has vertices at A = (-5, -1), B = (-5, 5), and C = (3, -1)?

Question 1155070: What is the length of the longest side of a triangle that has vertices at A = (-5, -1), B = (-5, 5), and C = (3, -1)?
Answer by ikleyn(52793) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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This problem admits a REMARKABLY simple solution, which does not require, practically, ANY calculations.

Notice that the side AB is vertical of the length 5 - (-1) = 6 units

       and  the side AC is horizontal with the length 3 - (-5) = 8 units.


So, the triangle ABC is a right angled triangle with the right angle A and the legs of 6 and 8 units.


It is a classic (3,4,5) right angled triangle with the hypotenuse BC of 10 units long.


Hypotenuse is the longest side.


ANSWER.  The length of the longest side is 10 units.

Solved, explained and completed.

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