- #1
JustAChemist
- 5
- 0
Homework Statement
What function represents the distance between the point P(1, 2, 2) and any point on the sphere
x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 1?
Homework Equations
My solutions manual says that the answer is f = (x - 1)^2 + (y - 2)^2 + (z - 2)^2
The Attempt at a Solution
I tried applying pythagoras' theorem and came up with f = sqrt[ (1 - x)^2 + (2 - y)^2 + (2 - z)^2 ] :/
It's actually part of an optimisation problem (what are the shortest and longest distances from P and the sphere?), but I'm pretty sure I've got it sorted once I can get the function... can anyone help?... please? ): (without vectors if possible :/)
thankyou (: