Is my equation for finding equidistant points correct?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding an equation for the locus of points that are equidistant from two given points A(1,5) and B(-2,6). The original poster attempts to derive this equation using the distance formula and is seeking confirmation of their result.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster sets up the problem by equating the distances from a point C(x,y) to points A and B. They express uncertainty about simplifying the resulting equation. Other participants point out potential arithmetic errors and discuss geometric interpretations of the locus.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, offering corrections and clarifications. There is a focus on verifying the properties of the derived line, including its relationship to the midpoint of A and B and its perpendicularity to the line segment connecting these points. The discussion is ongoing with no explicit consensus reached.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating through the implications of their calculations and the geometric properties of the locus, including the need to check slopes for perpendicularity. There is a light-hearted acknowledgment of misunderstandings regarding geometric terminology.

aisha
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Here is the question I think I've almost got the answer. Describe and create an equation for each locus.

a.) THe points are equidistant from points A(1,5) and B(-2,6)

I made another random point C(x,y)

AC=BC

I wrote the distance formula for both AC and BC and set them equal to each other but I am not sure how to simplify now

square root[(x+2)^2 +(y-6)^2] = square root[(x-1)^2+(y-5)^2]

I square both sides to get rid of the square root but after that i don't know what to do I got a final answer of 6x-2y+13=0 please tell me is this correct?
 
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Almost, just a small arithmetic error. It should be 6x-2y+14=0
Geometrically you can see it should be a line. Moreover, it should pass through the midpoint of the line joining the points A and B and be perpendicular to it.
Check that the line indeed satisfies these conditions.
 
Galileo said:
Almost, just a small arithmetic error. It should be 6x-2y+14=0
Geometrically you can see it should be a line. Moreover, it should pass through the midpoint of the line joining the points A and B and be perpendicular to it.
Check that the line indeed satisfies these conditions.

I got the equation but now I have to do the describing part how do I describe the locus? How will I check that the line is indeed perpendicular to points A and B?
 
It's not perpendicular to the "points" A and B. How can you be perpendicular to a point? :smile: The locus should be perpendicular to the line joining A and B, and to verify this, compare the slopes of the two lines. What can you say immediately about the slopes of two lines if they are perpendicular?
 
oh the slope will be a negative reciprocal then ill know if it is perpendicular thanks for pointing that out lol ur right you can't be perpendicular to a point opps lol. :smile:
 

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