document.write( "Question 749634: find the distance from (6,-4) to the line defined by y=2x-6 \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #456129 by tommyt3rd(5050) You can put this solution on YOUR website! Typically we ask for the shortest distance because the distance from the line varies. So here we go...\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "There is a line perpendicular to our line that passes through (6,-4). Since it is perpendicular it has the slope -1/2\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "After some simplifying we can get\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Notice that this new line must intersect our original at a point exactly parallel to (6,-4) (why?)\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Therefore if we find the point of intersection we can use that point to find our distance\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "and this leads us to the x-coordinate which is x=2 and so y=2(2)-6=-2\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Next we find the distance between (6,-4) and (2,-2)\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "and this gives us \r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Actually in precalculus there is a formula:\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( ":) \n" ); document.write( " |