Q:

Complete the coordinate proof of the theorem.

Accepted Solution

A:
C(a,b), because the x-coordinate( first coordinate) is a (seeing as it is situated directly above point B, which also has an x-coordinate of a) and the y-coordinate ( second coordinate) is b (seeing as it is situated on the same horizontal level as point D, which also has a y-coordinate of b)

the length of AC can be calculated with the theorem of Pythagoras:

length AB = a - 0 = a
length BC = b - 0 = b

seeing as the length of AC is the longest, it can be calculated by the following formula:

It is called "Pythagoras' Theorem" and can be written in one short equation:

a^2Β + b^2Β = c^2 (^ means to the power of by the way)

in this case, A and B are lengths AB and BC, so lenght AC can be calculated as the following:

a^2 + b^2 = (length AC)^2
length AC = √(a^2 + b^2)

Extra information: Seeing as the shape of the drawn lines is a rectangle, lines AC and BD have to be the same length, so BD is also √(a^2 + b^2). But that is also stated in the assignment!