document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1127347>Question 1127347</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A is a point (-1,6) on a Cartesian graph, and B is point (14,9) on the same graph. Point C is on the x axis. The least value of line AC + line CB is... </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #743774 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13203)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=743774\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The phrase \"least value of line AC + line CB\" has no meaning.  Lines don't have \"values\".<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "And lines don't have lengths, either.  Mathematically, a line extends infinitely in both directions.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "What you are clearly looking for in this problem is the minimum total length of line SEGMENTS AC and CB.  Or more simply, the shortest total distance from A to C to B.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The standard method of solution for this problem is to define point D to be the reflection in the x-axis of A: D(-1,-6).  Then the distance from A to C is the same as the distance from D to C.  And since the shortest distance between two point is a straight line, the shortest distance from A to C to B is the length of segment DB.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Segment DB has horizontal and vertical components of 15 each; the Pythagorean Theorem gives the answer to the problem as 15*sqrt(2). </SPAN>\n" );
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