I need help with finding line equations, showing tri. prop's

Cinnamon

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Jun 8, 2006
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Here is the problem i need help with:

Find the equation of the lines satisfying the given conditions parallel to the x-axis and passes through the point (-5, -3)

And this one as well:

Use slope to show that Triangle ABC with vertices a(0, 2), b(2, 3), and c (1, 5) is a right triangle.

Please help quickly. Thank you!
 
Re: I NEED HELP WITH THESE MATH PROBLEMS

Hello, Cinnamon!

Find the equation of the line parallel to the x-axis and passes through the point (-5, -3)
"Parallel to the x-axis" means the line is horizontal; its slope is \(\displaystyle m\,=\,0\)

Point-slope Formula: the line through \(\displaystyle (x_1,y_1)\) with slope \(\displaystyle m\) is:
\(\displaystyle \;\;\;y\,-\,y_1\;=\;m(x\,-\,x_1)\)

Our line has the point \(\displaystyle (-5,3)\) and \(\displaystyle m\,=\,0\)

Its equation is: \(\displaystyle \,y\,-\,3\;=\;0(x\,-\,[-5])\;\;\Rightarrow\;\;y\,=\,3\)


Use slope to show that Triangle ABC with vertices A(0,2), B(2,3), and C (1,5) is a right triangle.
The slope of AB is: \(\displaystyle \,m_{AB} \:=\:\frac{3\,-\,2}{2\,-\,0}\:=\:\frac{1}{2}\)

The slope of BC is: \(\displaystyle \,m_{BC}\:=\:\frac{5\,-\,3}{1\,-\,2}\:=\:-2\)

Since these slopes are negative reciprocals of each other, \(\displaystyle AB\,\perp\,BC\)

Therefore: \(\displaystyle \,\angle ABC\,=\,90^o\;\;\Rightarrow\;\;\Delta ABC\) is a right triangle.
 
Soroban just made a minor mistake with first problem.
It should be y=-3, not y=3.
He had the point down wrong.
 
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