Question

Write a program that reads from the user any three points in two dimensional space: x1, y1, x2, y2, x3, y3. Assume these points form a line segment, (x1, y1) to (x2, y2) to (x3, y3). Calculate the sum of these line segments and print value to two decimal places.For example with points (0.0, 0.0), (3.0, 4.0), (6.0, 8.0), the distance for the first segment is 5.0, the second segment is 5.0, so the output for this case would be 10.00. The input and output for this case would be:INPUT:0.0 0.03.0 4.06.0 8.0OUTPUT: 10.00

Answer 1

Answer:

The solution code is written in Python:

1. import math  
3. coord= input("Enter coordinates for three points: ")
4. coordList = coord.split(" ")
6. for i in range(0, len(coordList)):
7.    coordList[i] = float(coordList[i])
9. seg_1 = math.sqrt((coordList[0] - coordList[2])**2 + (coordList[1]- coordList[3])**2)
11. seg_2 = math.sqrt((coordList[2] - coordList[4])**2 + (coordList[3]- coordList[5])**2)
13. print(seg_1 + seg_2)

Explanation:

Firstly, we can use Python built-in method input() 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, coordList, 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 $\sqrt{ (x1 - x2){^2} + (y1 - y2){^2} }$

At last, sum up the two line segments, seg_1 & seg_2 and print it in the terminal (Line 13).