Question

The vertices of a rectangle are at (−1, −5), (3, −5), (3, −7), and (−1, −7). What is the length of the shorter side of the rectangle? Enter your answer in the box

Answer 1

4 units

Explanation:

The length of the shorter side is equal to the difference in y-coordinates of two vertically opposite vertices. The y-coordinates of the vertices (-1, -5) and (3, -5) are both -5, so the vertical side between them is not the shorter side. The y-coordinates of the vertices (3, -7) and (-1, -7) are both -7, so the vertical side between them is the shorter side. The difference in the x-coordinates of these two vertices is 3 - (-1) = 4, so the length of the shorter side is 4 units.