The coordinates of point C, denoted as
, can be either 3 or 13. This is determined by the condition that the distance between points B and C is one-fourth of AB.
Let's denote the coordinates of points A, B, and C as
respectively.
Given that the distance between points B and C is one-fourth of AB, we can set up the following equation:
![\[BC = (1)/(4)AB\]](https://img.qammunity.org/2024/formulas/mathematics/college/b1ztcu4uwbyq7vyups1qbtg3xjcb4b4t1k.png)
The distance between two points is given by the absolute difference of their coordinates. Therefore:
![\[|x_B - x_C| = (1)/(4)|x_A - x_B|\]](https://img.qammunity.org/2024/formulas/mathematics/college/k19wtj3tf0kowovrl3mm7404kdnvyma5dj.png)
Given that the coordinates of points A and B are
, we can substitute these values into the equation:
![\[|8 - x_C| = (1)/(4)|(-12) - 8|\]](https://img.qammunity.org/2024/formulas/mathematics/college/3lfae9n5mseqxh1ezfmcxn8u8u38uir6ov.png)
Simplify the equation:
![\[|8 - x_C| = (1)/(4)|-20|\]](https://img.qammunity.org/2024/formulas/mathematics/college/svv5b66qw308vvexiv1cjl4sstl6ylvzcy.png)
![\[|8 - x_C| = 5\]](https://img.qammunity.org/2024/formulas/mathematics/college/gt5s5m2k44y20ilpkeakotoiqhjs3vhmy3.png)
Now, solve for
by considering both positive and negative cases:
Case 1:

![\[x_C = 8 - 5 = 3\]](https://img.qammunity.org/2024/formulas/mathematics/college/5xxa7l3nlg6nbx7spplqh6l1yd25bheiwz.png)
Case 2:

![\[x_C = 8 + 5 = 13\]](https://img.qammunity.org/2024/formulas/mathematics/college/3exa53vvewuts6og7t11bgbjr3o9coxqq0.png)
Therefore, the coordinates of point C are
or

Que. Point C is between points A and B. The distance between points B and C is 1/4 of AB. What is the coordinate of point C?