Need help on this coordinate geomeotry question

[9Vibes]

So here's how it goes.

Find the coordinates of the centre and the radius of the circle
x^2 + y^2 - 4x + 6y -12 =0

a)If the circle cuts the x-axis at the points A and B , find the length of line segment AB.

My question is , I have actually found 2 points , they are
(-2,0) and (6,0)

However , How do I know which point is A or which point is B?
in the answer sheet , (-2,0) is A , but can anyone explain why?
Why can't A be (6,0)?

 

[HallsofIvy]

Are you serious? It doesn't matter! You are not asked to find A and B separately you are asked to find the distance between A and B. And the distance "from A to B" is the same as the distance "from B to A".

 

[9Vibes]

Are you serious? It doesn't matter! You are not asked to find A and B separately you are asked to find the distance between A and B. And the distance "from A to B" is the same as the distance "from B to A".

Yes , but right now I am asking why is A at (-2,0) and not at (6,0)?
For A is used in the later part B , I don't have the question with me now , so I can't really describe the part B of the question...

 

[symbolipoint]

Yes , but right now I am asking why is A at (-2,0) and not at (6,0)?
For A is used in the later part B , I don't have the question with me now , so I can't really describe the part B of the question...

Recheck HallsOfIvy's answer again. The ordered pair values are important; not the name you gave the points. "A" and "B" are just names. The ordered pairs tell us WHERE each point is. You needed to find the ordered pairs, and you succeeded.

 

[chaoseverlasting]

Its probably because the -2,0 point lies to the left (occurs before) of the 6,0 point. There's no particular reason to it.

 

[HallsofIvy]

Yes , but right now I am asking why is A at (-2,0) and not at (6,0)?
For A is used in the later part B , I don't have the question with me now , so I can't really describe the part B of the question...

Who says that "A is at (-2, 0)"? If that information in in the question, it is because you are told that A is (-2, 0) and they want you to label the point (-2, 0) and use that later in the problem.