Math 10 Week #14 (Updated)

This week we learnt how to find the length of line segments. A line segment can be found on a graph and is often labeled on either end with letters (like A,B).

To find a line length the question will give you the coordinates for where the line starts and finishes. For example they might tell you: point A(3,3) and point B(5,7) and ask you to find the distance from points A to B. The first number in each coordinate is on the x axis and the other is on the y axis.

First, you take the x coordinate for the A and the x coordinate for the B. Whichever number is bigger, you subtract the smaller one from. (5-3=2) Then, you do the same for the y coordinates. (7-3=4)

Next, you use Pythagorean Theorem to find the length ( $a^2$ + $b^2$ = $c^2$ ). So, $2^2$ + $4^2$ = $c^2$ .