Precalculus: Concepts Through Functions, A Unit Circle Approach to Trigonometry (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32193-104-1
ISBN 13: 978-0-32193-104-7

Chapter F - Foundations: A Prelude to Functions - Section F.3 Lines - F.3 Assess Your Understanding - Page 31: 111

Answer

We see that the first two sides haves slopes that are negative reciprocals of one another ($m = -\frac{2}{3}$ and $m = \frac{3}{2}$). Therefore, these sides are perpendicular to one another, and this triangle is a right triangle.

Work Step by Step

In a right triangle, two of the sides must be perpendicular to one another. This means that the slopes of the two sides are negative reciprocals of one another, or that the product of the slopes of two of the sides should equal $-1$. Let's figure out the slopes of each of the sides. The formula to find the slope of two points on a line is: $m = \dfrac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_2}$, where $m$ is the slope and $(x_1, y_1)$ and $(x_2, y_2)$ are two points on the line. Let us plug the points $(-2, 5)$ and $(1, 3)$ into the formula: $m = \dfrac{3 - 5}{1 - (-2)}$ Simplify numerator and denominator: $m = \dfrac{-2}{3}$ Rewrite the fraction in more conventional terms: $m = -\dfrac{2}{3}$ Let's plug the points $(1, 3)$ and $(-1, 0)$ into the formula: $m = \dfrac{0 - 3}{-1 - 1}$ Simplify numerator and denominator: $m = \dfrac{-3}{-2}$ Simplify the fraction: $m = \dfrac{3}{2}$ Let us plug the points $(-1, 0)$ and $(-2, 5)$ into the formula: $m = \dfrac{5 - 0}{-2 - (-1)}$ Simplify numerator and denominator: $m = \dfrac{5}{-1}$ Simplify the fraction: $m = -5$ We see that the slopes of the first two sides haves slopes that are negative reciprocals of one another $\left(m = -\frac{2}{3}\text{ and } m = \frac{3}{2}\right)$. Therefore, these sides are perpendicular to one another, and this triangle is a right triangle.
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