Question

The distance between two points on a coordinate grid is 5 units. One of the points is at (2,−1)

(
2
,
−
1
)
. The x-coordinate of the other point is -2. Which is a possible value for the missing y-coordinate?

Answer 1

Answer: -4

Step-by-step explanation: You have to solve this using the Pythagorean theorem, which indicates that any right triangle with sides a, b and hypotenuse c will have lengths a^2 + b^2 = c^2. A common Pythagorean triple is 3, 4, 5 (a common right triangle length). In this case, the distance between the two points is the hypotenuse of the triangle, which is 5 units. The x-coordinate has been shifted 4 down in this case. Knowing that, all you have to do is shift the y-coordinate down by 3 units to get your answer.