Question

A point is reflected across the x-axis. The new point is (5,-3.5). What is the distance between the two points?

Answer 1

Distance between the points = 7 units

Explanation:

If a point P(h, k) is reflected across x-axis, rule to be followed will be,

P(h, k) → P'(h, -k)

By this rule,

If the coordinates of new point P' are (5, -3.5)

Then the coordinates of pre-image point P will be (5, 3.5)

By using formula to get the distance between two points,

Distance =
`√((x_1-x_2)^2+(y_1-y_2)^2)`

Distance between (5, 3.5) and (5, -3.5) =
`√((5-5)^2+(3.5+3.5)^2)`

=
`√(0+7^2)`

= 7 units