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: 28

Answer

$$\color {blue}{\bf\text{Yes, the points make a right triangle}}$$

Work Step by Step

For clarity lets start by naming our points: $A=(-7,4)$ $B=(6,-2)$ $C=(0,-15)$ First, we'll use the distance formula to find the lengths of each side: $d(P,Q)=\sqrt{(x_{P}-x_{Q})^2+(y_{P}-y_{Q})^2}$ $AB= \sqrt{(-7-6)^2+(4-(-2))^2}$ $AB= \sqrt{(-13)^2+6^2}$ $AB= \sqrt{169+36}$ $AB= \sqrt{205}$ $AC= \sqrt{(-7-0)^2+(4-(-15))^2}$ $AC= \sqrt{(-7)^2+19^2}$ $AC= \sqrt{49+361}$ $AC= \sqrt{410}$ $BC= \sqrt{(6-0)^2+(-2-(-15))^2}$ $BC= \sqrt{6^2+13^2}$ $BC= \sqrt{36+169}$ $BC= \sqrt{205}$ Now that we have the lengths of the sides, $AB= \sqrt{205}$, $AC= \sqrt{410}$, $BC= \sqrt{205}$, we can apply the Pythagorean Theorem $a^2+b^2=c^2$ to see if the sides make a right triangle. $(\sqrt{205})^2+(\sqrt{205})^2=(\sqrt{410})^2$ $205+205=410$ $410=410$ Which is $\bf \text{true}$, so: $$\color {blue}{\bf\text{Yes, the points make a right triangle}}$$
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