Question

Quick Math Question Involving Distance from a point to a line.

So, I took a test today, and I forgot to use the standard formula for point to line, but instead I used the distance formula by substituting in the given point and a point from the equation so I used the y intercept point. Would my answer come out to be the same? I have a feeling no because my friend got a different answer but she used the distance from a point to line formula.

Answer 1

No it wouldn't. The distance from a point to a line is this distance shown here

http://intmstat.com/plane-analytic-geometry/Image3.png

the distance in question is the length of the green segment PQ. Notice how PQ is perpendicular to DE

Answer 2

so you can't just use any point on the line DE. It has to be point Q

Answer 3

btw, when they say "distance from a point to a line" they mean "the SHORTEST distance from a point to a line".

Let R be any other point on line DE. So R is not at point Q. The segment PR is going to be longer than PQ no matter where R ends up.

Answer 4

Eh, alright thanks