172k views
2 votes
Russell flies a drone in a circular path around an object that is 150 yards west and 240 yards south of his position. The drone's path takes it over a point that is 220 yards east and 150 yards north of him. Find an equation for the drone's path. (Assume Russell is located at the origin, with the horizontal axis running east-west and the vertical axis running north-south)

a) x² + y² = 240x + 150y
b) x² + y² = 150x + 240y
c) x² + y² = 150x - 240y
d) x² + y² = -240x - 150y

User Pan
by
7.7k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

The equation represents the circle's path, which is calculated by finding the midpoint between two given points and then using that midpoint and one of the points to determine the circle's radius. The equation for the circle's path, based on the midpoint and radius, does not perfectly match any of the given options. The correct answer, when written in general form x² + y² = Ax + By, is: x² + y² = 70x − 90y

Step-by-step explanation:

To find an equation for the drone's path, we should recognize that the path it takes is part of a circle. The center of this circle is the midpoint between the two points described in the question, and the radius is half the distance between these two points. Since Russell is at the origin, and the first point mentioned is (−150, −240) and the second is (220, 150), we calculate the center of the circle (Cx, Cy) and its radius (R).

First, find the midpoint (Cx, Cy):

Cx = (−150 + 220) / 2 = 35

Cy = (−240 + 150) / 2 = −45

Then, calculate the radius (R), which is the distance from the midpoint to one of the points:

R = √[(220 − 35)² + (150 + 45)²]

R = √[(185)² + (195)²]

R = √(34225 + 38025)

R = √72250

Now plug the center coordinates and radius into the standard form of a circle's equation (x − h)² + (y − k)² = R²:

(x − 35)² + (y + 45)² = 72250

Expand this equation:

x² − 70x + 35² + y² + 90y + 45² = 72250

x² − 70x + 1225 + y² + 90y + 2025 = 72250

Combine like terms:

x² + y² − 70x + 90y = 72250 - 1225 - 2025

x² + y² − 70x + 90y = 68000

The correct answer, when written in general form x² + y² = Ax + By, is:

x² + y² = 70x − 90y

However, none of the provided options match this equation exactly.

User Mttmllns
by
8.5k points