Distance Formula

Distance Formula
Definition of Distance Formula
The formula
, which is used to find the
distance between two points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2), is called the
Distance Formula.
Examples of Distance Formula

The distance between the points (1, 3) and (2, 5) is
Solved Example on Distance Formula
What is the distance between the points A (4, 6) and B (- 2, - 2)?
Choices:
A.10
B.6
C.8
D.4
CorrectAnswer:A
Solution:
Step1: (x1, y1)and(x2, y2) =(-2,-2)
Step 2: Distance between the two points can be found using the distance
formula
Step 3: So, AB =
.
= 10 units.
Distance Formula
Slope Formula
Midpoint Formula
Coordinate Proofs
The coordinate proof is a proof of a geometric theorem which uses "generalized" points on the
Cartesian Plane to make an argument.
The method usually involves assigning variables to the coordinates of one or more points, and
then using these variables in the midpoint or distance formulas.
For example, the following is a coordinate proof of the Triangle Midsegment Theorem, which
states that the segment connecting the midpoints of two sides of a triangle is parallel to the third
side and exactly half the length.
Without loss of generality, we can assume that one side of the triangle lies on the x-axis with one
vertex at (0, 0) and the other vertex at (a, 0).
Let the third vertex have the coordinates (b, c). We can assume without loss of generality that
this third vertex lies in the first quadrant. (If it doesn't, you can just reflect the triangle over the xand/or y-axis until it does.)
To Prove:
is parallel to
and
Proof:
Using the midpoint formula, the coordinates of the midpoints X and Y are
First note that the slope is 0, since
So,
is parallel to
Now, compare the lengths of the two segments.
So,
This concludes the proof.
COORDINATE PROOF
When developing a coordinate geometry proof:
1. draw and label the graph
2. state the formulas you will be using
3. show ALL work (if you are using your graphing
calculator, be sure to show your screen displays as part of your
work.)
4. have a concluding sentence stating

what you have proven and why it is true.
Question #1
Prove that quadrilateral A(1,2), B(2,5), C(5,7) and D(4,4) is a parallelogramby using
slopes.
Slope formula:
slope of
slope of
slope of
slope of
Parallel lines have equal slopes.

ABCD is a parallelogram because it has
two sets of parallel sides.
QED.
Question #2
Prove that A(1,1), B(4,4), C(6,2) are the vertices of a right triangle.
Slope formula:
slope of
slope of
Perpendicular lines have negative

reciprocal slopes.
Perpendicular lines meet to form right
angles. So,
is a right angle.
is a right triangle since it
contains a right angle.

QED.
Question #3
Prove that quadrilateral A(1,-2), B(13,4),

C(6,8) and D(-2,4) is a trapezoid, but is NOT an isosceles trapezoid.
Question #4
Prove that A(-2,2), B(1,4), C(2,8) and D(-1,6) is a parallelogramusing midpoints.

Slope formula:
Midpoint Formula
slope of
slope of
midpoint of
slope of
slope of
midpoint of
Question #5
Parallel lines have equal slopes.
Prove that A(-3,2), B(-2,6), C(2,7) and D(1,3) is a rhombus.
A segment bisector intersects a

ABCD is a trapezoid because it has only
segment Formula
at its midpoint. Since each
Distance
one set of parallel sides.
diagonal has the same midpoint,
they bisect each other.
ABCD is a parallelogram because the diagonals bisect each other.
Distance Formula:
ABCD
is not
Question
#6 an isosceles trapezoid because the legs are not of equal length.
AB = CD = BC = AD making the opposite
sides congruent as well as all sides
Prove that A(4,-1), B(5,6), C(1,3) is an isosceles
right triangle.
congruent.
ABCD is a parallelogram because its
opposite sides are congruent.
ABCD is a rhombus because it is a
parallelogram with all sides congruent.
Distance Formula
is isosceles because it has two congruent

sides.
This is an isosceles right triangle because

it is both an isosceles triangle and a right
triangle.
is a right triangle because its sides satisfy the

Pythagorean theorem.
Question #7
Guinevere and Lancelot see a drawing of quadrilateral ABCD, A(2,2), B(5,-2), C(9,1)
and D(6,5).
Guinevere says the figure is a rhombus, but not a square. Lancelot says the figure is a square.
Write a proof to show who is making the correct observation.
Distance Formula
ABCD is a parallelogram because it has two sets

of opposite sides congruent.
ABCD is a rhombus because it is a parallelogram
with 4 congruent sides.
Slope Formula
slope of
slope of
So,
since the slopes are negative

reciprocals.
ABCD is a square because it is a parallelogram with a right angle and all sides are congruent.
Lancelot is correct!
Midpoint
Definition Of Midpoint
Midpoint of a line segment is the point that is halfway between the endpoints of the line
segment.
More About Midpoint

A line segment has only one midpoint.
If AB is a line segment and P is the midpoint, then AP = BP =
.
In two-dimensional coordinate plane, the midpoint of a line with
coordinates of its endpoints as (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) is given
by
Examples Of Midpoint
In the above figure, length of

is 15 cm and distance of C from
both the endpoints A andB is 7.5 cm. So, C is the midpoint of
Solved Example on Midpoint
is a line segment with end points A (- 2, - 4) and B (4, - 4). Find the
coordinates of the midpoint of
.
Ques:
Choices:
A. (1, - 4)
B. (- 1, 4)
C. (1, 4)
D. (- 1, - 4)
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
Step 1: The end points are A (- 2, - 4) and B (4, - 4).

Step 2: Let the mid point be C (x, y).
Step 3: The coordinates of C are (- 2 + 42, - 4 - 42). [Use mid-point
formula.]
Step 4: So, the coordinates of the midpoint are (1, - 4).
Prove that ABCD i ss a rectangle

Distance Formula

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Distance Formula

Definition of Distance Formula

Examples of Distance Formula

First note that the slope is 0, since

Now, compare the lengths of the two segments.

This concludes the proof.

4. have a concluding sentence stating

Parallel lines have equal slopes.

Perpendicular lines have negative

contains a right angle.

Prove that quadrilateral A(1,-2), B(13,4),

Prove that A(-2,2), B(1,4), C(2,8) and D(-1,6) is a parallelogramusing midpoints.

Prove that A(-3,2), B(-2,6), C(2,7) and D(1,3) is a rhombus.

A segment bisector intersects a

is isosceles because it has two congruent

This is an isosceles right triangle because

is a right triangle because its sides satisfy the

ABCD is a parallelogram because it has two sets

since the slopes are negative

More About Midpoint

In the above figure, length of

Step 1: The end points are A (- 2, - 4) and B (4, - 4).

Prove that ABCD i ss a rectangle

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