Precalculus (6th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 013421742X
ISBN 13: 978-0-13421-742-0

Chapter 2 - Graphs and Functions - 2.1 Rectangular Coordinates and Graphs - 2.1 Exercises - Page 193: 26

Answer

$$\color {blue}{\bf\text{No, the points don't make a right triangle}}$$

Work Step by Step

For clarity lets start by naming our points: $A=(-2,-5)$ $B=(1,7)$ $C=(3,15)$ First, we'll use the distance formula to find the lengths of each side: $d(P,Q)=\sqrt{(x_{P}-x_{Q})^2+(y_{P}-y_{Q})^2}$ $AB= \sqrt{(-2-1)^2+(-5-7)^2}$ $AB= \sqrt{(-3)^2+(-12)^2}$ $AB= \sqrt{9+144}$ $AB= \sqrt{153}$ $AC= \sqrt{(-2-3)^2+(-5-15)^2}$ $AC= \sqrt{(-5)^2+(-20)^2}$ $AC= \sqrt{25+400}$ $AC= \sqrt{425}$ $BC= \sqrt{(1-3)^2+(7-15)^2}$ $BC= \sqrt{(-2)^2+(-8)^2}$ $BC= \sqrt{4+64}$ $BC= \sqrt{68}$ Now that we have the lengths of the sides, $AB=\sqrt{153}$, $AC= \sqrt{425}$, $BC=\sqrt{68}$, we can apply the Pythagorean Theorem $a^2+b^2=c^2$ to see if the sides make a right triangle. $(\sqrt{153})^2+(\sqrt{68})^2=(\sqrt{425})^2$ $153+68=425$ $221=425$ Which is $\bf \text{false}$, so: $$\color {blue}{\bf\text{No, the points don't make a right triangle}}$$
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