Big Ideas Math Integrated I, 2016
BI
Big Ideas Math Integrated I, 2016 View details
8. Coordinate Proofs
Continue to next subchapter

Exercise 3 Page 643

  • It's easier to find the lengths of horizontal and vertical segments.
  • It's easier to find the distance of a segment if one of the segments endpoints is at the origin.

Example Solution:

Coordinates: (0,0), (0,2) and (3,0)
Explanation: See solution.

Practice makes perfect
When we calculate the lengths of segments in a coordinate plane we should consider the following:
  • It's easier to find the lengths of horizontal and vertical segments.
  • It's easier to find the length of a segment if one endpoint is at the origin.

Therefore, one possible placement is to place one of the vertices at the origin, and then have one side run along the vertical axis and another side run along the horizontal axis.