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: 27

Answer

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

Work Step by Step

For clarity lets start by naming our points: $A=(-4,3)$ $B=(2,5)$ $C=(-1,-6)$ First, we'll use the distance formula to find the lengths of each side: $d(P,Q)=\sqrt{(x_{P}-x_{Q})^2+(y_{P}-y_{Q})^2}$ $AB= \sqrt{(-4-2)^2+(3-5)^2}$ $AB= \sqrt{(-6)^2+(-2)^2}$ $AB= \sqrt{36+4}$ $AB= \sqrt{40}$ $AB= 2\sqrt{10}$ $AC= \sqrt{(-4-(-1))^2+(3-(-6))^2}$ $AC= \sqrt{(-3)^2+9^2}$ $AC= \sqrt{9+81}$ $AC= \sqrt{90}$ $AC= 3\sqrt{10}$ $BC= \sqrt{(2-(-1))^2+(5-(-6))^2}$ $BC= \sqrt{3^2+11^2}$ $BC= \sqrt{9+121}$ $BC= \sqrt{130}$ Now that we have the lengths of the sides, $AB= 2\sqrt{10}$, $AC= 3\sqrt{10}$, $BC= \sqrt{130}$, we can apply the Pythagorean Theorem $a^2+b^2=c^2$ to see if the sides make a right triangle. $(2\sqrt{10})^2+(3\sqrt{10})^2= (\sqrt{130})^2$ $4(10)+9(10)= 130$ $40+90= 130$ Which is $\bf \text{true}$, so: $$\color {blue}{\bf\text{Yes, the points make a right triangle}}$$
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