The coordinates of the point C on the x-axis so that AC + BC is a minimum is; C(5.5, 0)
The steps used to solve for the coordinates of the point C can be presented as follows;
Let (x, 0) represent the coordinates of the point C on the axis
The coordinates of the point A is (3, 6), and the coordinates of the point B is (8, 4), therefore;
= (3 - x)² + (6 - 0)²
= x² - 6·x + 45
= (8 - x)² + (4 - 0)²
(8 - x)² + (4 - 0)² = x² - 16·x + 80
= x² - 16·x + 80
Where AC + BC is a minimum, we get;
+
is also a minimum, which indicates that at the minimum value, we get;
x² - 6·x + 45 + x² - 16·x + 80 = 2·x² - 22·x + 125
d(2·x² - 22·x + 125)/dx = 0
d(2·x² - 22·x + 125)/dx = 4·x - 22
x = 22/4
x = 5.5
Therefore the coordinates of the point C is (5.5, 0)