Question

Using the image below, find the y value for the point that divides the line segment XY into a ratio of 1:2.

Answer 1

−0.7

−2.3

−0.3

−0.2

Answer 2

@mathmale But I already did ^w^

Answer 3

We could find the actual point, or just the y-coordinate.

It you're working with a problem involving ratios, such as this one, add together the integers forming the ratio. Here, the ratio is 1:2; adding them together results in 3.

Now, the distance from X to the point in question is 1/3 of the way from point X to point Y, whereas the dist. from point Y to the point in question is 2/3 of the way from Y to X. Have you seen this approach used before?

Answer 4

@mathmale Nope :(

Answer 5

You'll need to find the VERTICAL (only) distance from X to Y. In this case, that can be found by inspection. What is that distance (the distance from X to Y)?

Answer 6

@mathmale 11 units? :)

Answer 7

How's that again? Look ONLY at how much y ONLY changes as you travel along line XY from X towards Y.

Answer 8

In other words, ignore the horizontal dimension for now.

Answer 9

@mathmale My apologies >.> I counted the distance between the two points, and thus I got 11 units.

Answer 10

You could, if necessary, draw a horiz. line through each point X and point Y. How far apart are these two lines? That's another way to answer my previous question.

Answer 11

@mathmale Hmm... So I look at the vertical distance from X to Y, right? To answer your question, that is.

Answer 12

@mathmale I do know that x is located at (-6, -1) and that y is located at (5, 1)... But that's about it to be honest ;-;

Answer 13

Ignoring the horizontal distance, how far apart (vertically) are X and Y? Hint: 1-(-1)=?

Answer 14

@mathmale 2? :)

Answer 15

This most recent question of mine has exactly the same answer as "how far apart are the two parallel horiz. lines drawn separately through X and Y? Yes, the answer is 2 units.

Answer 16

@mathmale Ahhhh I see :o Yay! Finally got something right! xD

Answer 17

@mathmale Thank you for the hint!

Answer 18

Your job is to find the y-coordinate of the point between X and Y such that the distances from X to this point and the distance from this point to Y are in the ratio 1:2.

For now, just take my word for it: Multiply that 2 you got just now by (1/3).

Answer 19

So glad you got this. Suggest you take notes and review them, so you'll be prepped next time you see one of these ratio problems. Best wishes to y ou.

Answer 20

@mathmale I got 0.66666...7 but that's not one of my choices ;-;

Answer 21

@mathmale And it's a positive number too

Answer 22

@mathmale Wouldn't the answer be C or D?

Answer 23

Set the calc. aside for a min and multiply 2 by (1/3) in your head.

Answer 24

@mathmale Before I do that, I'd like to share this with you: http://openstudy.com/study#/updates/52f15d3be4b0d693ffe37830

Answer 25

@mathmale I'd get a number that's close to 1 :P

Answer 26

Actually, you were right on the first time, when you typed in 0.6666 ( a repeating decimal). True, it's not negative, as the answer choices all are. But in terms of magnitude it's the closest, right?

Answer 27

@mathmale Correct ^-^ But what about this?: http://openstudy.com/study#/updates/52f15d3be4b0d693ffe37830
Even if the answer was the number that's closest to 0.666...7 (which is 0.7), it wouldn't be correct, would it?

Answer 28

Right. It wouldn't, because it'd not be negative. But think carefully: Should this y-value be positive or negative? what does it represent? It's the y-coordinate of the point whose distances from X to Y are in the proportion 1:2.

Answer 29

@mathmale According to the choices that I was given, it would have to be negative :)

Answer 30

True. i agree. But why? Again: "Find the y-coordinate of the point whose distance from X and whose distance to Y are in the ratio 1:2), OR, in other words, 1/3 of the distance from X to the point. Agree or not? Look carefully at the graph. Would that point be located above or below the x-axis?

Answer 31

@mathmale I agree :) I'm gonna be honest, I really don't know >.> This person did a similar problem: http://openstudy.com/study#/updates/52ed5fc2e4b0cdd2a983da15 and their answer was correct. I don't understand how they did the problem though <.<

Answer 32

mathmale could you take a look at my question?