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Given the distance between the points A(4,a) and B(a,11) is 5 units, find the possible values of 'a'

User Kennebec
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A(4,a) B(a,11)

AB² = (a-4)² + (11-a)², EXPAND

AB² = a²-8a+16 + 121-22a+a²

AB² = 2a²-30a+137, but AB = 5 (given), therefore AB² =25
25 = 2a²-30a+137
OR 2a²-30a+112 = 0
It's a quadratic equation, Solve for a
a= 7 or a = 8
User Farid Shumbar
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