Answer
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Explanation
We've been asked to find the length of the distance between points A (2, 3) and B (14, 12).
a) First of, we've been asked to sketch the right angle triangle that coulb be used to calculate the distance AB
The sketch will be shown below
So, the figure above represents the right angle triangle that can be used to calculate the distance AB
Distance AB = hyp = ?
Distance between the x-coordinates of points A and B = x = 14 - 2 = 12
Distance between the y-coordinates of points A and B = y = 12 - 3 = 9
The Pythagoras Theorem is used for right angled triangle, that is, triangles that have one of their angles equal to 90 degrees.
The side of the triangle that is directly opposite the right angle or 90 degrees is called the hypotenuse. It is normally the longest side of the right angle triangle.
The Pythagoras theorem thus states that the sum of the squares of each of the respective other sides of a right angled triangle is equal to the square of the hypotenuse. In mathematical terms, if the two other sides are x and y respectively,
x² + y² = (hyp)²
For this question,
x = 12 units
y = 9 units
hyp = AB = ?
x² + y² = (hyp)²
12² + 9² = AB²
144 + 81 = AB²
225 = AB²
We can rewrite this as
AB² = 225
Take the square root of both sides
√(AB²) = √(225)
AB = 15 units
b) The second part of the question asks how we calculated the legs of the right angle triangle that we used to solve this distance between AB.
Since both points lie on given x and y axis levels in the coordinate system, the length of the legs of this right angle triangle is obtained simply by taking the difference between respective x and y coordinates.
For the base of the triangle,
Distance between the x-coordinates of points A and B
= x
= 14 - 2
= 12 units
For the height of the triangle,
Distance between the y-coordinates of points A and B
= y
= 12 - 3
= 9 units
Hope this Helps!!!
