Question

P is a point on the x axis 13 units from the point (-3, 5). find all the possible coordinates for p.

Answer 1

If P is a point in the x axis therefore this means that the y must be zero. Hence the coordinate of p is (x, 0).

We can use the distance formula to solve for the value of x:

d^2 = (x – x1)^2 + (y – y1)^2

13^2 = (x + 3)^2 + (0 – 5)^2

169 = (x + 3)^2 + 25

(x + 3)^2 = 144

x + 3 = ± 12

x = -15, 9

Hence P has two possible coordinates:

(-15, 0) and (9, 0)