SOLUTION: Please help me find the exact value of the shortest distance from the origin to each line. This question does not give me a point and I don't know how to do it without. The quest

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas -> SOLUTION: Please help me find the exact value of the shortest distance from the origin to each line. This question does not give me a point and I don't know how to do it without. The quest      Log On


   

Question 473815: Please help me find the exact value of the shortest distance from the origin to each line. This question does not give me a point and I don't know how to do it without. The question is: y=x-4
Answer by scott8148(6628) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
the equation is in slope-intercept form ___ the slope is one, and the y-intercept is -4

the line forms an isosceles right triangle; with the line as the hypotenuse and the x and y axes as the legs
___ the vertex is the origin

so the distance from the origin to the line is the altitude of the triangle
___ or the distance to the midpoint of the hypotenuse, located at (2,-2)