Question

Line segments JK and JL in the xy-coordinate plane both have a common endpoint J(-4,11) and midpoints at M, (2, 16) and M2 (-3,5), respectively. What is the distance between M, and M2? Round to the nearest tenth.

Answer 1

Answer:

12.1

Step-by-step explanation:

We use the formula for the distance between two arbitrary points $(x_1,y_1)$ and $(x_2,y_2)$ in the xy-coordinate plane, that is:

$d=\sqrt{(x_1-x_2)^2 + (y_1-y_2)^2}$

So, replacing the points $M=(2,16)$ and $M_2=(-3,5)$, we obtain:

$d=\sqrt{(2-(-3))^2 + (16-5)^2}\\d=\sqrt{(2+3)^2 + (16-5)^2}\\d=\sqrt{5^2 + 11^2}\\d=\sqrt{146 }=12.083045... \simeq 12.1$

that is the answer.

note: observe that we only use the coordinates between the two midpoints and not the point J.