Answer:
The solution code is written in Python:
- import math
- coord= input("Enter coordinates for three points: ")
- coordList = coord.split(" ")
- for i in range(0, len(coordList)):
- coordList[i] = float(coordList[i])
- seg_1 = math.sqrt((coordList[0] - coordList[2])**2 + (coordList[1]- coordList[3])**2)
- seg_2 = math.sqrt((coordList[2] - coordList[4])**2 + (coordList[3]- coordList[5])**2)
- print(seg_1 + seg_2)
Explanation:
Firstly, we can use Python built-in method <em>input()</em> to get coordinates for three points from user (Line 3). To simplify the entry process, the input of the three coordinates is expected in a single string 0.0 0.0 3.0 4.0 6.0 8.0O. Please note each of the coordinates is separated by a single space.
Next, we can proceed to use Python string split() method and single space character " " as separator to break the input string of coordinates into a list of individual numbers ["0.0", "0.0", "3.0", "4.0", "6.0", "8.0"].
Prior to calculating the line segment, it is important to ensure the coordinates in the list,<em> coordList</em>, have been converted from string to float type (Line 6 - 7).
Next, we are ready to apply the Distance formula to calculate the length of the two line segments that join the three coordinates (Line 9 and Line 11). The distance formula is
At last, sum up the two line segments, <em>seg_1 </em>& <em>seg_2 </em>and print it in the terminal (Line 13).