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E X P L O R I N G DATA
A N D S TAT I S T I C S The Distance and
Midpoint Formulas
10.1 GOAL 1 USING THE DISTANCE AND MIDPOINT FORMULAS

To find the distance d between A(x1, y1) and B(x2, y2 ), you y B(x2, y2)
What you should learn can apply the Pythagorean theorem to right triangle ABC.
GOAL 1 Find the distance (AB)2 = (AC)2 + (BC)2 d
between two points and find
d 2 = (x2 º x1)2 + (y2 º y1)2
the midpoint of the line seg-
ment joining two points. d = (x
 x
2º 1)+
2
( 
y2
ºy
1)
2
A(x1, y1) C (x2, y1)
GOAL 2 Use the distance The third equation is called the distance formula. x
and midpoint formulas in
real-life situations, such as
finding the diameter of a T H E D I S TA N C E F O R M U L A
broken dish in Example 5.
The distance d between the points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) is as follows:
Why you should learn it
d = (x
2º
x
1)+
2
(y2º
y
1)
2
 To solve real-life
problems, such as finding the
distance a medical helicopter
must travel to a hospital in
Exs. 53–56. AL LI EXAMPLE 1 Finding the Distance Between Two Points
FE
RE

Find the distance between (º2, 5) and (3, º1).

SOLUTION
Let (x1, y1) = (º2, 5) and (x2, y2) = (3, º1).

d = (x
2º
x
1)+
2
(
y2
ºy
1)
2
Use distance formula.

= (3
 º(º
2))
2+
(º
1
º5
)2 Substitute.

= 25
+6
3 Simplify.

= 61 ≈ 7.81 Use a calculator.

EXAMPLE 2 Classifying a Triangle Using the Distance Formula

Classify ¤ABC as scalene, isosceles, or equilateral.

y
SOLUTION A (4, 6)
AB = (6
 º4
)+(1
2
º6
) = 29
2

BC = (1
 º6
)2
+(3
º1
)2 = 29 C
AC = (1
 º4
)+(3
2
º6
) = 32
2
1
(1, 3)
B (6, 1)
 Because AB = BC, ¤ABC is isosceles. 1 x

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Another formula involving two points in a coordinate plane is the midpoint

formula. Recall that the midpoint of a segment is the point on the segment that
is equidistant from the two endpoints.

THE MIDPOINT FORMULA

The midpoint of the line segment joining y A(x1, y1)

A(x1, y1) and B (x2, y2) is as follows:
midpoint M
x +2 x
1
M , 
2 y1 + y2
2  B(x2, y2)
Each coordinate of M is the mean of the x
corresponding coordinates of A and B.

EXAMPLE 3 Finding the Midpoint of a Segment

Find the midpoint of the line segment joining (º7, 1) y

and (º2, 5).
(2, 5)
SOLUTION
Let (x1, y1) = (º7, 1) and (x2, y2) = (º2, 5). 
 92 , 3 
 1
2
,  =   , 
x +x y +y
2
2 1 º7 + (º2) 1 + 5
2
2
2 (7, 1) 1
1
= º, 3
x
9
2

EXAMPLE 4 Finding a Perpendicular Bisector

Write an equation for the perpendicular bisector of y

the line segment joining A(º1, 4) and B(5, 2).
A(1, 4)
(2, 3)
SOLUTION
First find the midpoint of the line segment: B(5, 2)
1

 1
2
,  = ,  = (2, 3)
x +x y +y
2
2 1º1 + 5 4 + 2
2
2
2
2
y  3x  3
x

Æ
Then find the slope of AB:
y2 º y1 2º4 º2 1
m =  =  =  = º
x2 º x1 5 º (º1) 6 3
1
STUDENT HELP The slope of the perpendicular bisector is the negative reciprocal of º, or mfi = 3.
3
Look Back Since you know the slope of the perpendicular bisector and a point that the bisector
For help with passes through, you can use the point-slope form to write its equation.
perpendicular lines,
see p. 92. y º 3 = 3(x º 2)
y = 3x º 3

Æ
An equation for the perpendicular bisector of AB is y = 3x º 3.

590 Chapter 10 Quadratic Relations and Conic Sections

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FOCUS ON
APPLICATIONS GOAL 2 DISTANCE AND MIDPOINT FORMULAS IN REAL LIFE

Recall from geometry that the perpendicular bisector of a chord of a circle passes
through the center of the circle. Using this theorem, you can find the center of a
circle given three points on the circle.

EXAMPLE 5 Using the Distance and Midpoint Formulas in Real Life

ARCHEOLOGY While on an archeological dig, you y

discover a piece of a broken dish. To estimate the
original diameter of the dish, you lay the piece on a
coordinate plane and mark three points on the
circular edge, as shown. Use these points to find the
L
AL I
ARCHEOLOGISTS
diameter of the dish. (Each unit in the coordinate
FE
RE

use grids to system- plane represents 1 inch.)

atically explore a site. By
labeling the grid squares, SOLUTION
A B
they can record where each Use the method illustrated in Example 4 to find the 1 (6, 4)
artifact is found. Æ Æ (4, 2)
perpendicular bisectors of AO and OB. O(0, 0) 1 x
Æ
y = 2x + 5 Perpendicular bisector of AO
3 13 Æ
y = ºx +  Perpendicular bisector of OB
2 2
Both bisectors pass through the circle’s center. y
Therefore, the center of the circle is the solution
of the system formed by these two equations.
y = 2x + 5 Write first equation.
3 13 C
ºx +  = 2x + 5 Substitute for y.
2 2
º3x + 13 = 4x + 10 Multiply each side by 2. B
º7x = º3 Simplify. A 1
3
x =  Divide each side by º7. O 1 x
7
 37 
y = 2  + 5
Substitute the x-value
into the first equation.
41
y =  Simplify.
7

STUDENT HELP  37 471 

The center of the circle is C  ,  . The radius of the circle is the distance
Look Back between C and any of the three given points.

 0 º 37  + 0 º 4 71
For help with solving 2 2
systems, see p. 148. CO =

= 
1 46
9
90

≈ 5.87

 The dish had a diameter of about 2(5.87) = 11.74 inches.

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GUIDED PRACTICE
Vocabulary Check ✓ 1. State the distance and midpoint formulas.
Concept Check ✓ 2. Look back at Example 1. Find the distance between (º2, 5) and (3, º1), but this
time letting (x1, y1) = (3, º1) and (x2, y2) = (º2, 5). How are the calculations
different? Do you get the same answer?
3. a. Write a formula for the distance between a point (x, y) and the origin.
b. Write a formula for the midpoint of the segment joining a point (x, y) and
the origin.

Skill Check ✓ Find the distance between the two points.

4. (2, º1), (2, 3) 5. (º5, º2), (0, º2) 6. (0, 6), (4, 9)
7. (10, º2), (7, 4) 8. (º3, 8), (5, 6) 9. (6, º1), (º9, 8)

Find the midpoint of the line segment joining the two points.

10. (0, 0), (º8, 14) 11. (0, 3), (4, 9) 12. (1, º2), (1, 6)
13. (1, 3), (3, 11) 14. (º5, 4), (2, º4) 15. (º1, 5), (º8, º6)
16. HIKING You are going on a two-day hike. y
The map at the right shows the trails you plan B(2, 6)
to follow. (Each unit represents 1 mile.)
a. You hike from the lodge to point A and decide
Æ
that you will hike to the midpoint of AB before A(3, 2)
you camp for the night. At what point in the
plane will you be camping? lodge (0, 0) x

b. How far will you hike each day?

PRACTICE AND APPLICATIONS

STUDENT HELP USING THE FORMULAS Find the distance between the two points. Then find
the midpoint of the line segment joining the two points.
Extra Practice
to help you master 17. (0, 0), (3, 4) 18. (0, 0), (4, 12) 19. (0, 4), (8, º3)
skills is on p. 953.
20. (º2, 8), (6, 0) 21. (º3, º1), (7, 4) 22. (9, º2), (3, 6)
23. (º5, º8), (1, 6) 24. (º2, 10), (10, º2) 25. (8, 3), (2, º1)
26. (º10, º15), (12, 18) 27. (º3.5, 1.2), (6, º3.8) 28. (6.3, º9), (1.3, º8.5)

STUDENT HELP

11
29. (º7, 2), º, 4
2  
2 11

7 11
30. , º , º, º
3 4 2 2   
3
4
7
31. º, 2 , 5, º
4 
HOMEWORK HELP
Example 1: Exs. 17–31, GEOMETRY CONNECTION The vertices of a triangle are given. Classify the
47–50 triangle as scalene, isosceles, or equilateral.
Example 2: Exs. 32–40
Example 3: Exs. 17–31 32. (2, 0), (0, 8), (º2, 0) 33. (4, 1), (1, º2), (6, º4) 34. (1, 9), (º4, 2), (4, 2)
Example 4: Exs. 41–46 35. (2, 5), (8, 2), (4, º1) 36. (5, º1), (º4, 0), (3, 5) 37. (4, 4), (8, 1), (6, º5)
Example 5: Exs. 51–58
38. (0, º3), (3, 5), (º5, 2) 39. (1, 1), (º4, 0), (º2, 5) 40. (2, 4), (3, º2), (º1, 1)

592 Chapter 10 Quadratic Relations and Conic Sections

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FINDING EQUATIONS Write an equation for the perpendicular bisector of the

line segment joining the two points.
41. (2, 2), (6, 14) 42. (0, 0), (º8, º10) 43. (0, º6), (º4, 9)

44. (3, º7), (º3, 1)

3

45. (º3, º7.2), (º4.2, 1.8) 46. , º6 , (º3, 1)
2 
FINDING A COORDINATE Use the given distance d between the two points to
solve for x.
47. (0, 1), (x, 4); d = 3
4 48. (1, 3), (º6, x); d = 7
4

49. (x, º10), (º8, 4); d = 75 50. (0.5, x), (7, 2); d = 8.5

STUDENT HELP URBAN PLANNING In Exercises 51

NE
ER T
and 52, use the following information.
HOMEWORK HELP
INT

You are designing a city park like the one

Visit our Web site
www.mcdougallittell.com shown at the right. You want the park to
for help with problem have two fountains so that each fountain is
solving in Exs. 51 and 52. equidistant from four of the six park entrances.
The labeled points shown in the coordinate
plane represent the park entrances.
51. Where should the fountains be placed?
52. How far apart should the fountains be placed?

HELICOPTER RESCUE In Exercises 53–56, y

use the following information to find the
distance a medical helicopter would have
1
to travel to St. John’s Hospital from each 14W 19E 32
highway intersection. St. John's 6N
1N Hospital
47
The Highway Department of Sangamon 1E x
County in Illinois uses a map with a 0
10 18
coordinate plane whose origin represents 37
40
downtown Springfield. Each unit represents 6W 6E
one mile and the letters N, S, E, and W are 9S 9S
used to indicate the direction. For example,
FOCUS ON 3E 5S corresponds to (3, º5), a point 3 miles
CAREERS
east and 5 miles south of downtown Springfield.
St. John’s Hospital is located at 1E 0, or (1, 0).
53. Rt. 1–Rt. 32 intersection at 19E 6N 54. Rt. 37–Rt. 40 intersection at 6E 9S
55. Rt. 18–Rt. 40 intersection at 6W 9S 56. Rt. 10–Rt. 47 intersection at 14W 1N
57. ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION When a car makes a fast, sharp turn, an
accident reconstructionist can use the car’s skid mark to determine its speed.
The equation v = ar gives the car’s speed v (in meters per second) as a
function of the radius r of the circle (in meters) along which the car was
L
AL I traveling. The constant a (measured in meters per second squared) varies
ACCIDENT
FE
RE

RECONSTRUC-
depending on road conditions. Find the radius of the skid mark shown below.
TIONIST An accident Then use the given equation and 6.86 for a to find how fast the car was going.
reconstructionist uses  Source: Mathematical Modeling
physical evidence, such as y
skid marks, to determine (10, 1) (16, 2)
how accidents occurred. 1 (0, 0)
NE
ER T
1 x
INT

CAREER LINK
www.mcdougallittell.com

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58. STATISTICS CONNECTION A physician uses many tests to evaluate a patient’s

condition. Some of these tests yield numerical results. In these cases, the
physician can treat two test results as an ordered pair and use the distance
formula to determine how close to average the patient is. In the table below
the serum creatinine (C) and systolic blood pressure (P) for several patients
are given. Tell how far from normal each patient is, where normal is represented
by the ordered pair (C, P) = (1, 127).

C 2 5 1 7 3 4 1
P 120 127 140 115 112 125 130

Test QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON In Exercises 59º62, choose the statement that

Preparation is true about the given quantities.

¡
A The quantity in column A is greater.

¡
B The quantity in column B is greater.

¡
C The two quantities are equal.

¡
D The relationship cannot be determined from the given information.

Column A Column B

59. Distance between (0, 7) and (1, º1) Distance between (9, 2) and (3, 8)
60. Distance between (º5, º2) and (5, 2) Distance between (º5, 5) and (2, º2)
61. Distance between (º3, 0) and (2, º4) Distance between (7, 6) and (1, 5)
62. Distance between (2, º5) and (1, 6) Distance between (0, 8) and (6, 0)

★ Challenge 63. FINDING A FORMULA Find formulas for the distance between a point (x, y)
and each of the following: (a) a horizontal line y = k and (b) a vertical line x = h.

MIXED REVIEW
GRAPHING FUNCTIONS Graph the quadratic function. (Review 5.1 for 10.2)
64. y = 4x2 65. y = 3x2 66. y = º3x2 67. y = º2x2
1 2 3 5
68. y = x2 69. y = ºx2 70. y = ºx2 71. y =  x2
3 3 4 6

SOLVING EQUATIONS Solve the equation. Check for extraneous solutions.

(Review 7.6)
72. x2/3 + 13 = 17 73. x+
0
10 = 25 74. 2
x = x º 4
3
75. x+
2 = 3x x = 6
76. 23 77. º2x3/2 = º8

OPERATIONS WITH RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS Perform the indicated

operation and simplify. (Review 9.5)
2 x 4 1 11 x +1
78.  º  79.  +  80.  º 
x+1 2
x º1 2x 2 3 x 4(x º 5) 4x

3x xº1 2 5 x2 1 º 3x 2
81.  º  82.  +  83.  + 
x 2 x+3 3x + 2 xº4 xº6 2x + 1

594 Chapter 10 Quadratic Relations and Conic Sections