Question

College Algebra Hey I’m really struggling I need to know how to do line segments

Answer 1

Use the distance formula to determine the length of the line segment.

First, locate the two points in the graph.

We have points (-5,-2) and (2,-1).

Recall that the distance formula is in the equation.

`\begin{gathered} d = \sqrt {(x_(2) - x_(1))^2 + (y_(2) - y_(1))^2} \\ \text{where} \\ (x_1,y_1)\text{ and }(x_2,y_2)\text{ are the two points} \end{gathered}`

Substitute and we get

`\begin{gathered} (x_1,y_1)=(-5,-2) \\ (x_2,y_2)=(2,-1) \\ \\ d = \sqrt {(x_(2) - x_(1))^2 + (y_(2) - y_(1))^2} \\ d = \sqrt {(2 - (-5))^2 + (-1 - (-2))^2} \\ d=√((2+5)^2+(-1+2)^2) \\ d = \sqrt {(7)^2 + (1)^2} \\ d = \sqrt {{49} + {1}} \\ d = \sqrt {50} \\ d\approx7.071068 \end{gathered}`

Rounding to the nearest tenth, the distance of the given line segment in the graph is 7.1 units.