ESL Mathematics for Standardized Tests by Catherine Price

Author:Catherine Price
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780738665016
Publisher: Research & Education Association
Published: 2012-12-06T05:00:00+00:00

The distance between the two points is 6 units.

Figure 5.13: Finding the Distance Between Two Points on a Horizontal Line

The Pythagorean Theorem

The majority of the equations that we have graphed so far are straight lines located at various angles from both the x and y axes (the plural form of axis). Figure 5.14 illustrates the graph of the equation y = x + 1 with two points (x1, y1) = (0, 1) and (x2, y2) = (3, 4).

As figure 5.14 shows, we can draw a vertical line downward from point (x2, y2) until it meets a horizontal line drawn across from point (x1, y1). We can label the point where the two dotted lines meet (x2, y1) or (3, 1). The three line segments (the diagonal one and the two dotted ones) form a right triangle. Using the Pythagorean theorem, we can calculate the length of one side of a triangle if we know the lengths of the other two sides. Figure 5.15 shows a right triangle with sides a, b, and c, and angles A, B, and C. The side c opposite the right angle C is called the hypotenuse. The hypotenuse is the longest side, and the other two sides are called the legs.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.